Farmers have been urged to plant more avocados to help the government reach its target of doubling exports in five years.
Stakeholders said demand for avocados has continued to grow since China opened its market to Kenya last June but local production remains low.
The government aims to export Sh30 billion worth of avocados in five years up from Sh15 billion.
“The demand for avocados is very high and the current supply from farmers cannot satisfy it," said Elijah Njoroge, director of Mofarm Fresh Fruits Exporters Ltd.
"Those in the avocado business and especially those who extract oil from the fruits are going as far as Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania. We are urging our farmers to embark on extensive farming of avos with an assurance of getting high proceeds.”
He spoke in Ruiru, Kiambu county, when he was joined by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's wife, Tessie to flag off distribution of 3,500 avocado seedlings to persons living with disabilities.
Njoroge, who is popularly known as Mofarm, said due to the high demand for the fruit internationally, some rogue exporters had resorted to shipping immature avocados to overseas markets.
Kenya is the seventh-largest producer of avocado in the world.
In 2020, the country surpassed South Africa and other African countries in avocado exports.
Although the country is widely known for exportation of Hass avocado, farmers are also growing other varieties such as Fuerte and Jumbo.
Njoroge said there are only seven avocado oil extraction machines in the country.
“They are supposed to operate 10 tonnes per hour but none of them manages even five tonnes because we don’t have enough avocado fruits to sustain the demand,” he said.
Tessie, who was in the company of Ahadi Kenya Trust CEO Stanley Kamau, said the distribution of avocado seedlings to Vihiga county will economically empower PWDs.
It will also go a long way in helping Kenya realise its dream of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, she said.
“Besides assisting our people living with disabilities with an avenue for economic empowerment, these trees will play a significant role in conserving the environment,” Tessie said.
She urged Mofarm Fresh Fruits Exporters to provide technical support and avail extension officers to the PLWDs.
Kamau said 1 million avocado trees will be planted alongside 3 million indigenous trees to help the country achieve its forest cover target.
He said with the increased demand for avocado, farmers have a reliable market and can sell their fruit hustle free.
“After the maturity of these trees, farmers will have a reliable market for selling their produce and this, we hope, will alleviate poverty among our people,” Kamau said.
Farmers agreed that avocado growing has indeed become a lucrative venture.
“We are now selling a kilo of the fruit at Sh100 and we hope the prices will continue to increase," Jeff Mathai said.
"Unlike other crops, avocado trees are harvested every three months and this means parents can eliminate the school fees stress alongside meeting the basic needs of their children.”
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya
