Avocado farming in Kenya, as well as around the globe, is gaining prominence, mostly because of the nutritious benefits of the fruit and being that it is a very profitable income generator. The fruit is gaining popularity as a healthy super food and as such, the annual global demand is increasing at a faster rate than the annual global supply. This results in the fruit fetching high prices on the world market.
Kenya
is ranked 6th largest producer of avocados in the
world and as such, there is a great deal of talk and action around avocado
farming in Kenya. Even the government is making a lot of efforts to retain our
reputation for good quality and sustainable production for both domestic and
global market.
Avocado
farming is a long-term project that takes 2 years for the trees to come into
production. To reap healthy rewards, a farmer needs to adopt specific practices
so as to maintain a healthy plantation that yields top production for many
years.
The
avocado tree requires cool to warm temperatures, with the minimum not falling
below 7°C and a maximum of 30°C (the optimum range is 15°C to 25°C). This
climate is experienced in many areas that have traditionally not been growing
avocado. But now with the opening up of the Hass avocado market, even these
areas have taken on avocado farming for export. Only extremely high areas could
be left out since the trees are not tolerant to frost, especially those adapted
to humid tropics. The sensitivity of trees to low temperature is influenced by
a wide range of factors including:
· The
age of the tree, its vigor, its growth stage and its health.
· The
duration and frequency of low temperature, and the speed with which they fall
to near or below zero.
Temperatures
that are constantly above 36°C also have disastrous effects.
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Hass
Avocado seedlings |
Rainfall Requirement
Avocados
are highly adapted to different rainfall conditions; however, the rain should
be an average of 1,000–1,600mm per annum and well-distributed throughout the
year.
Irrigation
is essential where rainfall is not adequate. Although an avocado tree cannot
tolerate waterlogged soil, it needs at least 25mm of water every week during
periods of insufficient rainfall such as in eastern Kenya.
Too
much rain during flowering leads to shedding of flowers resulting in
significant reduction in production. Fungal diseases also normally become
problematic in very wet weather.
A
short period of dry weather of up to two months usually triggers flowering
especially in tropical climates not subject to marked falls in temperature.
The
avocado tree needs high relative humidity at flowering (70-80 per cent), then
moderate levels during the fruit swelling stage. Too much humidity encourages
the proliferation of pests and diseases such as thrips, scales, cercospora
spot, scab and anthracnose.
Wind
The
avocado is sensitive to strong winds, which may lead to breakage of branches or
flowers and fruits drop. Whole trees may even be uprooted. Hot dry winds may
cause desiccation of flower buds or abrasions.
Light
Avocado
needs plenty of light, 2,000 hours of sunshine a year (average of 6 hours a
day) are sufficient. Intense radiation causes scorching of leaves and fruits.
Soil
An
avocado tree can grow successfully in a variety of soil types and in soil with
acidic or alkaline pH levels, but the tree requires soil that has good
drainage. Avocados are more sensitive to water-logging than citrus hence soils
should be well-drained. Poorly drained soils are associated with the presence
of the Phytophthora fungi, which causes root or stem-end rot. To manage this
during this rainy season you can trenches at the edge of the farm to direct
excess rain water off the farm.
Suitable
soils are medium sandy loams with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5.
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Grafted
Hass Avocado seedlings |
Pollination
An
avocado tree needs to cross-pollinate with another variety for optimal fruit
set. Although avocado flowers have both male and female flower parts, each part
functions at a different time during the day.
The trees are grouped into Type A and Type B, depending on the time of day their male and female flower parts are reproductively viable. Planting Type A tree and Type B tree increases successful pollination if enough insect pollinators, such as bees, are present.
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Fertilizers
To
obtain good growth and high fruit yields, it is important to supply the
necessary nutrients. Several factors should be taken into account when deciding
on fertilizer rates.
The
existing fertility of the soil should be determined. The age of the trees,
fruit yields, the physical and chemical characteristics as a function of
climate, determine nutrient losses through leaching, which affects uptake
by the trees.
It
is advisable not to top-dress with nitrogen in the first four to five months
after transplanting. After this period, 60g of 26 per cent of Nitrate (N)
fertilizer should be applied every three months when the soil is moist.
About 15 to 30kg of well-rotten farm yard manure (FYM) should also be spread
around the tree
The
use of FYM is strongly recommended for young orchards since it improves
physical characteristics of the soil and supplies nutrients to trees, promoting
the uptake of micro-nutrients.
How
to grow Avocadoes for Export
Cultivation Requirements
Land Preparation
This
should be similar to the preparation of land for the other crops. In the case
that it’s a newly cleared land, a farmer is advised to plant an annual crop for
example, maize, peas or watermelon so as to achieve a good tillage of the
cleared land. In the case of strong winds, ensure that there are necessary wind
breakers such as hedges are in place.
Planting Materials
Avocados
can be grown from either seedlings or from the seeds. However, Hass avocados,
which are preferred in the export market, are best grown from grafted
seedlings. Grafting improves the variety by increasing its resistance to
diseases, hence increasing the yield and increases its adaptability to various
soils. The seedlings should be inspected by a professional so as to ensure that
they are free from diseases. If you want to be sure you are getting high
quality grafted Hass avocado seedlings, buy them from Richfarm Kenya
nurseries.
Planting Holes
The
standard spacing for grafted Hass avocado in Kenya is 5 by 5 meters. With this
spacing, 150 avocado trees can be planted in an acre. However, tree spacing
within the line can range from 3m to 5m while the space between the lines
should be at least 5m and at most 7m. The best practice is to dig the
holes in a straight line. This will make tending to the trees and harvesting
easy.
The
holes should be at least 2 feet but can be up to 1m deep. Soil samples should
be taken when digging the holes, while being careful not to mix the topsoil
with the subsoil. Send the samples to a legitimate soil testing lab for pH
testing.
Planting
The
farmer should use two buckets of farmyard manure properly mixed with the
topsoil, 250gm of double superphosphate fertilizer, and a certified insecticide
to fill the planting holes. Planting should be after the onset rains when the
rainwater has properly penetrated the soil. Irrigate the newly planted
seedlings until the first shoots appear. Sometimes, the young grafted Hass
avocado seedlings might need to be tied up with sticks to support them.
Mulching
Thick
organic mulch is recommended in young plants so as to reduce evaporation off
the soil and prevent very high and low root temperatures and salinity build up.
The mulch also reduces weed competition.
Pruning
Pruning
starts at the planting stage when shoots from the rootstock of the grafted
seedlings are removed in order to redirect all the growing energy to the top
part. It is also done before flowering and upon completion of harvesting.
Pruning allows light to penetrate the orchard, improves yield and provides a
superior tree structure. We have extensively explained avocado pruning in this
article: How
to Prune and Train Avocado Trees for Maximum Production
Thinning
This
involves removing some of the already formed fruits so as to reduce competition
for nutrients. I know it’s a painful thing for a farmer to pluck off fruits
that have already formed. However, it is necessary to do so in order to have a
number of fruits that can be perfectly supported by the tree to grow to the
desired large size.
Challenges Facing Avocado Farming
Pest And Diseases
Diseases
1. Avocado
Root Rot
It
is the most serious disease that affects the crop.
Causes: Fungal
pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi, thrives in poor drainage conditions.
Symptoms: Pale
and wilted leaves, branch die-back and small fruits are the consequences.
Management: It
has been suggested that applying a layer of gypsum and a 10 to 15cm layer of an
organic, coarse mulch underneath the avocado tree’s canopy, but several
centimeters from the tree’s trunk, supplies calcium and suppresses the
development of root rot.
2.
Anthracnose
Causes: Pathogen
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides,
Symptoms: infects
an avocado tree’s fruit, flowers, small branches and foliage, leaving spots,
lesions and decay. This disease thrives in areas of high humidity.
Management: Pruning
limbs to at least 2 feet off the ground increases air circulation at the base
of the tree and removing debris from underneath the tree
prevents pathogens.
3.
Bacterial Soft Rot
Symptoms: Gray
to black, mushy, foul smelling rot on fruit; fruti has darkened metallic sheen.
Bacteria may be present on leaves but do not cause damage unless plant is
stressed or bacteria enter the plant through a wound
Management: no
treatment for disease; use certified seed; disinfected tools and cuttings;
employ crop rotation; remove plant debris from soil.
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Pests |
1.
Avocado Thrips
Symptoms: Feeding
scars on fruit; scars begin as scabs or leathery patches and spread across
fruit; adult insect is orange-yellow in color with distinct brown bands and
reaches 0.7 mm (0.03 in) in length
Cause: Insects. Insect
thrives in cooler temperatures; insect may undergo 6 or more generations per
year
Management: By addition
of coarse organic mulch about 6 inches thick below trees may help to reduce
survival of thrips pupating in soil; if insecticides are to be applied, a
selective insecticide should be selected to reduce damage to populations of
natural enemies; Sprays of Entrust are organically acceptable
2.
MITES
Symptoms: tree
dropping leaves and becoming defoliated causing sunburn damage to exposed bark
and fruit; mites cause the development of circular chlorotic to brown spots on
the undersides of the leaves and fruit surface; dense colonies of mites produce
silk webbing which may appear as a silvery spot; large mite populations can
cause the entire tree canopy to appear lighter in color.
Cause: Arachnid.
Persea mites are most damaging on Hass and Gwen varieties.
Management: ensure
the tree is adequately fertilized, pruned properly and irrigated to avoid
unnecessary stress to the tree which can make them more susceptible to mite
attack; persistent infestations may require treatment with an appropriate
chemical; organic controls include several types of horticultural oil.
Harvesting
Harvesting
starts at 3-4 years from planting but a good yield is obtained from the 6th
year onwards. It is not easy to tell when the fruits are ready for harvesting
unless they are of the varieties that change colour at maturity. Harvest a
sample and keep at room temperature. If they soften within 7-10 days without shrivelling
then the fruit of that age are ready for harvesting.
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Hass
Avocado Tree |
Market
As I
covered earlier the government is making a lot of efforts to retain our
reputation for good quality and sustainable production for both domestic and
global market and make it a very profitable agriculture venture. Kenya's
Horticulture Directorate (KEPHIS) temporarily halts from time to time the export
of avocado varieties including Fuerte, Hass, Pinkerton and Jumbo to control the
quality of fruits being exported. This helps to prevent the harvesting of
under-ripe fruits and possible blacklisting by international buyers who are
part of the big market for our Kenyan Hass avocadoes among others.
How
to Get the Highest Hass Avocado Yield
If
you need any help on avocado farming and to get high quality grafted Hass
avocado seedlings, call Richfarm Kenya on 0724698357/0723213602
Make
sure to also visit our Farmer's
Resources Page to download a full guide on avocado farming in Kenya:
it's free for download and you are also allowed to share the pdf file.
- Cost
per seedling- ksh.150,
Hass Avocado
- Seedlings
per acre- 150 trees per
acre
- Spacing- (standard tree spacing is 5m by 5m)
- Fruit
price- Ksh. 200-220 per
kg locally
- Yield- 200-500 avocadoes per tree after maturity ( from 4th year)
- Common
pests- mites, avocado
thrips
- Common
diseases- Anthracnose,
bacterial soft rot, avocado root rot.
- Lifespan- deciduous
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Hass
Avocado Harvest |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the climatic requirements for
farming avocadoes in Kenya?
- What are the cultivation requirements in
avocado farming?
- What are the common pests and diseases
affecting avocado farming?
- How long after planting can I start
getting the first fruit in avocado farming?
- Can I export my avocado fruit?
- Is avocado farming one of the most
profitable fruit farming in Kenya?
- How is the local and export market?
- How is the government involved in the
control and marketing of quality avocado fruit?
