AVOCADO FARMING in Kenya is ripe with opportunity
By Bernard Muhia
Kenyans are a funny bunch; I say this because it is here that fads catch on like wildfire and especially where making money is involved. I set out to figure out if the new craze that is avocado farming is just another of those fads or it is a solid investment.
Avocados are not new to Kenya, neither is their farming. Almost every other rural home has an avocado tree in their farm from which they enjoy the fruit twice a year. Kenya is the 6th largest producer of avocados in the world and 2nd largest in Africa after South Africa.
The country produces an estimated 115,000 metric tonnes per year. This is set to increase as more and more farmers get into this venture. The most popular variety is Hass avocado which is jungle green in colour. It has in recent years grown in value as the export market demands more and more of it and more people become aware of its health benefits.
In central Kenya, some farmers are ditching coffee farming and replacing it with avocados given their promise of better yields. You may ask why avocados, well let me break it down. Avocados are a source of healthy fats unlike most fruits that consist mostly of carbohydrate. They are also rich in proteins and minerals. in greater quotient than you can find in animal proteins. In addition to being added to your Githeri (mixed maize and beans) or other favourite foods, avocados can be used in smoothies, ice cream and rum cocktails.
Avocados are also an ingredient in the manufacture of soaps, hand lotions, massage and shaving creams, cosmetics and hair products. All these products undoubtedly help the queens to slay even more. Avocados contain the following nutrients: Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E. It also has minute amounts of magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, zinc, phosphorous and vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin).
They are also rich in soluble fiber which helps in digestion and create a general feeling of fullness which in turn means that you eat less after that. It has entered the league of superfoods which are considered to be good if you’re trying to lose weight or eat healthy. Other than nutritional benefits, the health benefits of avocados are that they are good for the immune system, prevents cardiovascular disease, regulates high blood pressure and has anti-fungal, anti-tumor, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Demand for avocados has risen in Russia, Egypt, Spain, Netherlands, Qatar, Belgium, Iran, France, Libya, Hong Kong Germany, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Singapore. A new deal signed between Kenya and China will see 40% of all avocados produced exported to China. South Africa also lifted a ban from 2007 and is now accepting Kenyan avocados. Avocado exports netted 10.8Billion shillings for the country in 2018. This shows you the opportunities that lie in wait for you. An average family in China is said to consume 3 avocados per day and given its population of over 1 Billion people, the market will only continue to demand more and more of the fruit.
If you have just heard about the hype around avocados and think it’s a quick way to make a killing, think again. After planting avocado seedlings, it will take 3-4years for them to mature and start producing fruit.
However, grafting may take a shorter period for the grafted trees to mature. Kindly make sure you get seedlings or grafts from a certified seedling merchant. KEPHIS has embarked on an awareness and capacity building campaign in the counties to sensitize farmers on the Phytosanitary conditions (the right use of pesticides and general hygiene) needed to access the export market. It is a good time to be an avocado farmer especially if you are in these regions; Eastern, Central, parts of Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western.
Companies already working with farmers to export avocados are EPZ, Sunripe. Shanghai Greenchain has set up operations in Nairobi to facilitate the export processing of avocados. Once harvested, the avocados will be peeled and frozen in readiness for export.
There are various diseases and pests that attack an avocado tree and you need to guard against them or treat in case of infestation. The pests include Mites, Insects Borers, Lace-bugs, Thrips and Caterpillars. The diseases to look out for are Avocado root rot, Scab, Anthracnose, Avocado black streak, Algal leaf stain, Sunblotch, Bacterial soft rot and Cercospora fruit spot. Weed control is a good way to keep pests and diseases away as well as reduce the competition for water and nutrients in the soil.
A single tree of hass avocado can produce 1,000 fruits per year; at Kshs 8 per fruit multiply by the number of trees you have. Tree spacing will vary depending on soil fertility but should be between 6-10 meters and may not exceed 150 trees per acre. If you intend to get into avocado farming, it is more beneficial to enlist other farmers so that you can form a co-operative which the county government as well as private companies buying avocados can do business with since you will have bulk produce. From everything I have read and can gather, avocado farming seems to be a good investment because of the inter-government trade deals especially with China and South Africa. This guarantees a ready and accessible market unlike other farming fads that I have witnessed in the past.
Secondly, it takes four years to start fruiting and this might discourage people who just want to get into it to get rich quick. This will attract people who are patient and have thought out the process.
