Best Crops to Grow While Employed: Which is the Best?

In today’s busy world, where many people juggle full-time employment and personal ambitions, farming can offer an attractive side income. However, the type of crop you choose can make or break your success.
If you’re employed and thinking about starting a farming venture, you should carefully consider the management needs of different crops.
Tree crops like coffee and avocado are often a better choice compared to short-term crops like tomatoes or managu.
Here’s a detailed look at why choosing long-term orchard farming is the smarter move for employed individuals.

Understanding the Nature of Short-Term Crops

Short-term crops such as tomatoes, managu (African nightshade), spinach, and cabbage require intense daily management.
These crops are known for their short growing cycles, meaning they are planted, grown, and harvested within a few months. While this fast turnaround might seem appealing, it comes with a heavy load of responsibilities.

Daily Attention and Supervision

Short-term crops demand:

• Daily watering (especially during dry periods)
• Frequent pest and disease control
• Continuous weeding
• Regular fertilizer application
• Immediate action during sudden weather changes

Missing even two to three days of attention can result in major losses.
For someone employed full-time, this kind of daily supervision is not practical.

High Risk of Pests and Diseases

Tomatoes, for example, are extremely susceptible to:

• Early blight
• Late blight
• Bacterial wilt
• Fruit flies

Managu and other leafy vegetables can quickly be wiped out by aphids, whiteflies, and fungal diseases if not monitored closely.
These risks require constant spraying and treatment, which again demands time, availability, and money.

Market Volatility

Short-term vegetable markets can be volatile. Prices fluctuate rapidly depending on supply and demand. You might harvest a bumper crop only to find the market flooded, leading to losses instead of profits.

Why Coffee and Avocado Trees Are a Better Choice

Minimal Daily Supervision Needed

Once coffee or avocado trees are established, they do not require daily attention.
They only need:

• Seasonal fertilization
• Occasional pest and disease management
• Pruning once or twice a year
• Harvesting once or twice a year (depending on the crop)

This low-maintenance model perfectly fits an employed person’s schedule.
You can manage the farm during weekends, holidays, or even hire minimal help at affordable costs.

Long-Term Investment, Long-Term Gains

Unlike vegetables that are harvested and sold within months, trees mature and produce harvests for decades.
A well-established coffee farm can produce for 30–50 years, while avocado trees can live and produce for 40–60 years.

This means:

• Consistent annual income without replanting
• Appreciating asset value (farmland with mature orchards is very valuable)
• Ability to plan long-term instead of gambling with seasonal crops

Resistance to Short-Term Market Shocks

Fruit and coffee markets tend to be more stable than vegetable markets.
For example:

• Kenya’s coffee fetches premium prices internationally.
• Hass avocados have growing export demand in Europe, the Middle East, and China.

Unlike vegetables, where price crashes are common due to oversupply, coffee and avocado farmers are more shielded from local market shocks.

Comparing Labor Needs: Short-Term Crops vs Coffee and Avocado

As shown above, short-term crops are labor-intensive, while coffee and avocado are labor-light once established.

Real-Life Scenarios: Managing Farming While Employed

Case Study 1: The Tomato Farmer

John is employed full-time in Nairobi. He attempted to start a tomato farm on his rural plot.
Within two months, he realized:

• He couldn’t supervise daily spraying
• Workers hired mismanaged the farm
• Half the crop was lost to pests
• Harvested tomatoes were sold at very low prices

John eventually gave up after two unsuccessful seasons.

Case Study 2: The Avocado Farmer

Mary, also employed in the city, planted 100 Hass avocado trees.
She:

• Hired one caretaker to manage watering and weeding
• Visited the farm once a month
• Pruned trees yearly
• Sold her first avocado harvest to an exporter at a premium price

Now she enjoys passive income every season with minimal stress.

How to Start Coffee or Avocado Farming While Employed

1. Secure Good Land

Choose land with:

• Good rainfall
• Well-drained soils
• Access to roads for harvest transportation

If possible, purchase land close to where you live or have family.

2. Plan for Irrigation (If Possible)

Although coffee and avocado are relatively drought-resistant once established, young trees need adequate water.
Drip irrigation is highly recommended for the first two years.

3. Start Small and Expand

Don’t rush to plant hundreds of trees at once.
Start with 100–200 trees, learn the ropes, then expand gradually.

4. Hire a Reliable Caretaker

If you can’t supervise weekly, hire someone you trust to:

• Water the young trees
• Monitor for pests
• Report any issues early

Good farm management communication is key.

5. Think Long-Term

Remember:
Coffee trees start producing meaningful yields after 3–4 years.
Avocado trees start fruiting after 2–3 years (for Hass variety).

Patience and consistent care will pay off handsomely.

Challenges You Should Expect (and How to Manage Them)

No farming venture is without challenges. With coffee and avocado, expect:

1. Initial Waiting Period

You must wait a few years before seeing income.
Tip: Start farming while still employed, so you don’t depend on it immediately.

2. Disease and Pests (Though Less Frequent)

Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) and Avocado Root Rot are examples.
Tip: Invest in preventive care and regular scouting.

3. Marketing

You will need to identify buyers — especially for export avocados.
Tip: Join farmer cooperatives, attend agribusiness expos, and network with exporters early.

Conclusion: Why Tree Farming is the Smart Choice for Employed People

If you are employed somewhere and thinking of farming, choosing coffee or avocado over vegetables is simply smart.
You minimize:

• Daily farm stress
• Labor costs
• Market risks

And you maximize:

• Long-term returns
• Land value
• Peace of mind

Orchards allow you to build real wealth quietly while focusing on your career.

Instead of worrying every day about weather, pests, or laborers stealing your produce, you can have a system where your trees work for you — year after year.

So if you’re employed and dreaming of a farming side hustle, make the wise choice: Plant coffee or avocado — and let nature do the heavy lifting.