Avocado Farming In Kenya today – comprehensive guide

This article is a comprehensive guide into avocado Farming In Kenya today. Kenya is the 2nd largest producer and exporter of avocados in Africa and the 6th largest producer in the world. Kenya produces about 115,000 tons of avocados annually. 70% of the production is done by small farmers. Avocados grown in the country are for domestic consumption and export to Europe and Middle East countries.

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Avocados grow best in tropical and subtropical climates, conditions that really favor Kenya for large-scale production of avocados.

Major avocado growing areas include Murang’a, Thika, Kiambu, Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Kisii, Nakuru, Naivasha, North Rift, Machakos, Lower Nyanza, Makueni and Western Region.

Types of avocados grown in Kenya

Avocado varieties grown in Kenya include:

Hass,
Fuerte and

Puebla Avocados.

Fuerte is grown mainly for local/national consumption, while Hass avocados are grown for export and take about 5 years to bear fruit.

Avocado season in Kenya is between March and September, depending on the variety being grown. April to September is considered the peak season for avocado harvesting in Kenya.

Environmental conditions for growing avocados

Alluvial, loamy or sandy soil with a pH of around 5-7.
Rainfall is well distributed throughout the year, 1000 mm.
Soil well enough to prevent root rot.

The best temperature is 20-24 degrees.
The wind is not good for lawyers.
They have weak branches that break easily.

Avocados can be grown with other plants such as peas, beans and vegetables such as kale, collards, etc.

The size of the avocado tree can vary from 6 m to 7 m or 8 m to 10 m. It depends on the climate and soil fertility.

Nutritional benefits of avocados

Avocados are rich in minerals and protein.
They are loaded with saturated fat and heart-healthy fiber.
They are rich in potassium, which is important for stimulating/increasing the absorption of various soluble vitamins. This includes vitamins A, E, D and K.

Avocado farming is a very profitable business.

For one acre, you can plant about 100 to 130 trees, which works out to 300 to 400 kg per acre.

In the local market, avocados sell at Ksh 176 per kilogram.