Globally, Mexico leads in avocado exports, earning $ 2,980,000,000 while Kenya earned only $ 140,000,000 from the crop in 2021. Harvesting is done between June to September with a farmer likely to pocket over Ksh. 325, 000, Ksh. 520, 000 and Ksh. 1.3 million in the first to third harvest respectively
By Andanje Wakhungu
After many years of maize and cane cultivation by farmers in Western Kenya, a new horticulture plant, the avocado has finally been introduced by Sisi Village Produce into the agribusiness basket with signs of generating a healthy income for farmers. The much hyped Hass Avocado introduced by President William Samoei Ruto has landed in the region, particularly Kakamega County where farmers are now undergoing vigorous training on how best they can plant, manage and reap big from the produce that enjoys an international niche market.
There are three model farms and nurseries that have already been launched, they were set up in Kaimosi, Kimilili and Likuyani between March and December last year, a new office and nursery are also set to be launched in Malava Sub County as part of Hass Avocado’s spreading its agribusiness tentacles across the region.
In what could be seen as the next big investment in the region after the prices and production of both Maize and sugarcane nosedived due to the infiltration of brokers and cartels, Sisi Village Produce, the largest Hass Avocado chain in Nyanza and Western regions has set up nurseries in various locations within the two regions housing thousands of well-nurtured seedlings available to farmers interested in Hass farming at an affordable rate where those willing are trained by field offices on land preparation, to the harvesting of quality produce.
According to the organization official Linci Mulungu, the launch of Hass Avocado will pave way for diversification and give farmers a new incoming generating option that will in the long run prove more productive hence should be fully embraced. Mulungu observes that by introducing horticultural farming of the Avocado they will not only be empowering the locals economically but creating employment for the youths as well.
“This is a startup project here and we are encouraging our farmers to plant at least 10 seedlings on their farms. Considering that land size has been an issue but as fermers begin to see the benefit they will be willing to extend up to a full hectare, as once they begin to harvest between 2.5/5 years they will continue for the next 15 years with each year increasing its yields if properly taken care of”.
He stated that they were targeting the international markets where Hass is in demand owing to its numerous uses hence they were ready to train farmers on how well to plant and maintain their fruits to meet international standards.
We are targeting of having our own pack house in the Western region in the coming three years so that we can create employment and reach out to every farmer, besides stamping out the notion that horticulture is only a one-region activity since the climate conditions in the former Western province ( Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma, and Vihiga counties are much more supportive for avocado farming just like in Central Kenya but since the inception of avocado in Kenya in the 1930s it is only Central that has fully embraced it, it is time we also teach our people that they can reap big from it considering it is recommended as the best variety in terms of its shelf life. As the World is changing it is time for the region to also start walking away from unproductive farming practices and crops and begin to adapt to new and marketable crops that have demand across the globe.
Already we have recruited millions of farmers in Western and Nyanza who are doing Hass avocado and we are calling on the county governments in the region to partner with us and encourage more farmers to practice Avacado farming as it is the next big investment with ready markets. We as Sisi Village will collect the harvest on behalf of the farmer so they do not need to fear the lack of a market.
Globally, Mexico leads in avocado exports, earning $ 2,980,000,000 while Kenya earned only $ 140,000,000 from the crop in 2021. Harvesting is done between June to September with a farmer likely to pocket over Ksh. 325, 000, Ksh. 520, 000 and Ksh. 1.3 million in the first to third harvest respectively. Hass avocado has an excellent source of various nutrients for the body, as well as medicinal value for cancer patients and heart disease and is also used in cosmetics production.
