Kirinyaga avocado farmers want the county government to deploy extension officers to guide them on good crop husbandry.
Farmers who have formed a group in Mutithi ward, Mwea West, expressed fears of being duped into planting poor seedlings.
They also decried massive exploitation by brokers and middlemen involved in the value chain.
Speaking at Riagitugu farm in Mitithi during an induction course for newly recruited farmers, group coordinator Mary Mugo said the avocado sub-sector should be guided by county policies which should be formulated by all the stakeholders.
The induction was facilitated by a private nursery company, Bigfarm, which is keen to ensure farmers reap big from their ventures.
Mugo said since the fruit is in high demand in China and other foreign countries, the county government should assist them with extension services and help them establish a nursery to raise certified and quality seedlings.
“Presently we depend on seedlings supplied by individuals whose location of their nurseries cannot be established. This has led to poor yield from the uncertified seedlings,” she said.
Kiragu Njuguna, an officer from Bigfarm, shared experiences with the farmers and showed them seedling planting technique.
He said establishing a nursery would save farmers the agony of relying on seedlings from unknown sources.
“Giving farmers certified seeds will save them from losses. The county can establish a nursery that can supply to farmers for mutual benefit. The farmers will get profit and the county will collect revenue,” Njuguna said.
The farmers said there are missing gaps in farming knowledge and require continuous field training and services to increase yield.
The Kirinyaga government has in the past two years embarked on a massive programme to support groups undertaking various agricultural value chains, among them avocado farming.
Besides distributing avocado seedlings to farmers, the county spearheaded the formation of an avocado cooperative society to collectively allow farmers to negotiate for better prices for their crop and seedling propagation.
Edited by A.N
