Avocado Farmers Share Their Success Secret in Kenya

In April 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed a trade agreement with China. That agreement allowed Kenyan avocados to enter the Chinese market. Avocados from Kenya are now the second crop to be exported to the huge horticultural market in China.

History of Avocado Farming in Kenya

The avocado was introduced in Kenya in the 1930s by the Portuguese. Commercial cultivation of avocados in Kenya started in the 1960s. 23 tonnes of avocados were the first to be exported to Europe in 1970.

Types of Avocados in Kenya

The two most commonly grown varieties in Kenya are:

1. Hass
2. Fuerte

The Hass avocado is grown mainly for export while the Fuerte avocado is grown mainly for processing and the local market.

Land Preparation for Avocado Planting in Kenya

In case of newly cleared land, plant an annual crop a year before growing avocados. It will help achieve proper tillage of the cleared land.

You also will need a non-selective herbicide to clear the weeds. Planting holes usually measure about 60cm by 60cm by 60cm.

Avocado Spacing in Kenya

The Hass and Fuerte varieties grow about 120 trees per hectare. The avocado trees are spaced 9m by 9m for maximum yield.

The rows of trees are planted on an East to West orientation for maximum exposure to the sun.

Avocado Growing Conditions in Kenya

• Avocados grow well in a warm or cool climate.
• Avocados do well at an altitude of 1500m-2100m above sea level.
• Avocados require 1000mm-1600mm of rainfall that is well distributed throughout the year.
• The favorable temperature for avocados is 15-24°C
• Avocados require about 2,000 hours of sunshine a year.
• Avocados thrive on one meter of top soil that is free draining.
• The best soils for growing avocados are medium sandy or loam soil with a pH of 5-6.5

Avocado Planting Process in Kenya

Propagation is mainly from seedlings. Avocado seedlings are grafted so as to increase:

• Yield
• Resistance to diseases
• Adaptation to different soils

Avocados can be intercropped with other crops such as peas, kales, beans, or cabbage during the first three to five years before the trees start producing fruits.

Avocado Fertilizer Program in Kenya

Organic manure is used by majority of the smallholder avocado farmers in Kenya. Although, the amount and type of avocado fertilizer required depends on the soil nutrient status, water quality, plant size, plant density and yield expectation.  To get good soil and plant status results, 20 healthy, well distributed trees are marked and the soil and leaf samples taken from these.

To get a good avocado tree fertilizer schedule going, at least five years of soil and leaf samples should be taken and the history noted.  It is not always possible to correct nutrient in-balances in one season because it is a gradual process.

• Young transplanted avocado trees should not be fertilized too early.
• Trees must first become properly established and vigorously growing (6-12 months).
• Never apply fertilizer against the stems of the trees.
• Each fertilizer application should be followed by a light controlled irrigation.
• Do not work the fertilizers into the soil because this will damage the shallow roots.

Avocado Yield per Tree in Kenya

An avocado tree starts to yield three to four years after transplanting. Economical yields start at the sixth year.

Avocado trees that are above five years old yield about 800-1000kg per hectare per year. This is about 80,000-100,000 fruits.

Avocado Harvest Season in Kenya

Avocados in Kenya are harvested between March and September depending on the region and variety.

Avocado Growing Regions in Kenya

Avocados in Kenya are mainly grown in the following counties:

1. Murang’a
2. Kiambu
3. Nyeri
4. Embu
5. Makueni
6. Meru
7. Kisii
8. Nakuru

The fruit is being embraced by farmers outside the traditional growing zones in the Western and Rift Valley regions.