Avocado Farming in Kenya and the Market Outlook
Avocado
farming in Kenya, as well as around the globe, is gaining prominence, mostly
because of the nutritious benefits of the fruit. 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. See what
Despite
the increase in the prices, the fruit’s demand continues to grow. Kenya has
become the 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.
You can read: Murang’a County Makes Bill To Protect Avocado Farmers
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| Hass avocado Farming in Kajiado, Kenya |
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.
Some
of the requirements needed so as to get the highest yield in Kenya include;
Cool temperatures
Hass
Avocados are generally bigger in cool areas that are in altitudes between 1000m
to 2000m, as compared to warm areas. The optimum temperature is 20 to 24 degrees
Celsius. Hot, dry weather may cause the Hass Avocado fruit to drop prematurely. Although avocados are fairly resistant to drought, well
distributed rainfall of 1000mm - 1200mm is needed for proper crop development. Avocados
also hate wind. This is because the trees have very brittle branches that snap
off easily. This explains why the highlands of Kiambu, Muranga and Kisii have been considered as the ideal places for hass avocado farming in Kenya.
Irrigation
Hass
avocado plants require about 25mm water per week. The main roots are very
shallow, thus drip or micro sprinklers are best suited for the plants. The
farmers should have enough water all year round; without water, avocado trees
can dry up fast. The irrigation water quality should be tested for pH, since
high salts, sodium and chloride have a negative effect on the plants. A
diligent farmer will invest in soil moisture monitoring system, so as to ensure
water is evenly distributed throughout the root area.
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.
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| Certified grafted hass avocado seedlings at Richfarm Kenya nursery |
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 center
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
A
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:
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.
Pests and Diseases
Prevention
is the most efficient and economical method of pest and disease control. These
measures include weed control, proper fertilizer application, maintaining
optimum plant density and proper selection of planting materials.
Also read:
1. How To Grow Avocados In Kenya For Export
2. How Avocado Farming In Kenya Is Influenced By Global Supply
3. Avocado Farming in Kenya Gets a Boost as China Slashes Duty on Kenya Avocadoes
If you need any help on avocado farming and to get high quality grafted Hass avocado seedlings, call Richfarm Kenya on 0724698357.
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.
