Smart Harvest - 19th December 2020

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Why policy shift is key for avocado revolution. Pg2

Planning to grow avocado? Get the complete guide.

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In this week’s Value Chain edition, we focus on why many Kenyans want a piece of the billion shilling industry.

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The new gold rush for avocado

2 Smart harvest

Saturday, December 19, 2020 The Standard

Research & development Value addition

My highs and lows making avocado oil H

aving been an avocado farmer for more than 20 years, Steven Githongo, 73, can tell you the good, bad and the ugly of the trade.

“I know for sure that raw avocados do not fetch much. There is also the challenge like going bad before you find a buyer. That is why I diversified into making avocado oil for sale,” he says.

Mr Githongo shares with The Smart Harvest and Technology some of the lessons he has learnt on production of avocado oil.

After doing research, last year, Githongo embarked on avocado oil production at his farm in Rongai, Nakuru County where he grows the fruit on large scale. He embraced value addition to reduce post harvest losses.

“Every season, I was harvesting plenty of fruits, just like other farmers in Rongai. We all took our produce to the market at the same time flooding it. We got low prices and many a times the produce got spoilt,” he recalls. This is what jolted him to action. He noticed that when avocado flesh is mashed and sun-dried, it can last for at least five days.

Now he processes the avocado flesh to make oil.

He peels the flesh and dries it.

On the fifth day, the dry flesh is heated to 80 degrees using a multi-purpose miller machine that press against the flesh to produce oil.

Githongo invested in a miller that cost him about Sh500,000.

Other than making oil, he also uses the miller to process avocado seeds and skin into animal feed supplements.

For oil making, he says it is a

painstaking process that needs patience.

“I process three sacks of the raw avocado for half a day and I get three litres of oil,” he says.

After extracting the crude oil, he filters it to get pure oil for cooking.

He sometimes mixes the avocado oil with water to make medicines.

“The process is not only time consuming, but consumes a lot of diesel. I need labour and money to process the oil,” he shares.

The machine also needs to be operated by an expert since to produce the oil, the miller must be adjusted perfectly.

“Since I do not have money to hire a professional, I do everything by myself. It gets overwhelming sometimes. I hope things will ease out soon,” the farmer says.

He sells the oil at Sh3,000 per litre, Sh600 for 200ml, Sh300 for 100ml and Sh150 for 50ml.

He is still in the piloting stage and thus sells it locally to neighbours who either use it for cooking or medicinal purposes. He plans to approach Kenya Bureau of Standards next year to start commercial processing of avocado oil.

Githongo also plans to obtain a licence to sell cosmetics. “I know how important avocado oil is and I believe that with time, I will process as much as demanded in the market,” he says.

Meanwhile, Githongo is aware that mashing and drying avocado flesh increases its life expectancy.

He says a dried avocado flesh can be stored for more than three years without going bad. At the moment, he lacks a machine to mash the flesh, so he does it manually.

[Daniel Chege]

Stephen Githongo uses hass avocado fruit to make oil at his home in Rongai Sub County, Nakuru County. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Work at Avoveg Ltd, a processing company that exports avocados.

[David Njaaga, Standard]

Peeling avocados huge potential in the market The National Horticultural Policy shows how agroprocessing and packaging technologies are relatively undeveloped.

BBy Peter Muiruri

pmuiruri@standardmedia.co.ke

As Kenya ramps up avocado production, adoption of modern technology can boost production of the crop that is fast becoming a key foreign exchange earner.

The National Horticultural Policy cites poor uptake of modern methods of farming as one of the key challenges that hampers horticultural farmers from realising full potential.

For example, the policy shows how agro-processing and packaging technologies are relatively undeveloped in Kenya.

In particular, the policy calls for more investments in packaging technology since this is critical during transportation.

Avocados, just like other horticultural products are highly perishable and need the right type of packaging for safe transportation to the market.

Increase shelf life “Deliberate efforts need to be made towards investing in this area to increase produce shelf life, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve consumer acceptance in the domestic and inter-

national markets,” states the policy.

In Kenya, exporting fresh produce through sea freight has significant lower costs compared to air freight.

In addition, the policy notes that farmers of produce such as avocados have to contend with poor quality farm inputs such as seeds and fertiliser.

Furthermore, many dealers in farm inputs are not trained to offer quality instructions in crop husbandry.

“The poor quality of inputs attributed to counterfeiting and adulteration and their high cost are a hindrance to faster development of the sub-sector.

Despite the positive impact on the environment and health, little has been done to promote technologies such as organic farming that foster use of farmbased inputs,” states the policy.

Research And although the country has a myriad institutions carrying out research in horticulture, financial and human resource constraints as well as poor coordination in these organisations have held back breeding programmes.

This has left propagation of such important crops to outgrowers who have little knowledge on modern technological inputs.

“There are many smallholder commercial fruit tree nurseries spread all over the country but the majority do not meet

required standards,” states the policy.

Fruit flies Harnessing technology would also fight off other challenges such as fruit fly infestation that has led to loss of close to 30 per cent of avocados.

To address the problem, the government hopes to increase funding to research bodies and encourage breeders to collaborate with local and international research organisations.

Avocado is one of key fruits grown in Kenya in terms of enterprise value per unit area, others being pineapples, oranges, bananas and mangoes.

In recent years, the fruit has emerged as one of the best foreign exchange earners, fighting for space with other key agricultural products such as coffee, tea and cut flowers.

A 2019 research sponsored by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows avocado

“There are many smallholder commercial fruit tree nurseries ... but the majority do not meet standards that would ensure supply of quality-planting materials,” Policy.

accounts for 17 percent of total horticultural exports from Kenya and more than 50 per cent of the export value of the fruit subsector.

Kenya has also been identified as one of the fastest-growing avocado producers in the world, currently ranking third globally. However, it only exports 10 per cent of the total avocado produce.

According to worldstopexports.com, Kenya came eighth in the avocado export sector in 2019, generating about Sh14 billion.

Minor crop?

This is a sharp rise in earnings compared to the Sh2.3 billion accrued from the export of avocados mainly in the EU market in 2014.

Avocado Society of Kenya CEO Ernest Muthomi says the government can extend its assistance to local farmers by putting in place policies that will open up more export markets.

“The avocado was just another minor crop until it started to generate much cash in recent times. We appreciate that trade agreements with the US are underway.

“However, the government can help by taking a more proactive approach and formulate trade policies that will make our avocado business more competitive to the rest of the world,” says Muthomi.

Smart Harvest is published by: Standard Group PLC. Editor-in-Chief: Ochieng’ Rapuro; Managing Editor: John Bundotich; Editor: Hellen Miseda; Production Editor: Linda Bach; Revise Editors: Gathenya Njaramba, Mark Oloo; Contributors: Gloria Aradi, Gardy Chacha, Mercy Kahenda, Lydia Nyawira, Kevine Omolo, Titus Too, Stephen Rutto, Nathan Ochunbge, John Shilitsa, Manager, Print Creative: Dan Weloba; Creative Designer: Amusolo Odima, Joseck Mutoro Photography: Benjamin Sakwa, Kibata Kihu, Kipsang Joseph E-mail: smartharvest@standardmedia.co.ke; Website: www.farmers.co.ke

Smart harvest 3

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020 The Standard

Crop husbandry

From farm to fork: The A-Z of avocado farming For those interested in avocado farming always consider the market preference before selecting the variety to grow.

plant population of 120 plants per hectare. Consider other orchard activities when laying out the field. For instance, will you need to lay out pipes to supplement rainfall? Will you use machines in the farm?

By Monica Njoki Thuo

3. Nutrition Management To avoid costly mistakes, carry out a soil test first before planting any crop. The test indicates the state of nutrients in your soil and recommendations are given against the nutritional requirements of the crop you want to plant. The test should give you the nutrients required and quantities needed for each.

It goes further to recommend the fertiliser type and quantity.

Regularly perform soil test for your orchard through the years.

Should you not have done a soil test, meet the following: a. A month before planting prepare holes 60 x 60 x 60cm (length x width x depth). Separate the top and sub-soils. Mix the top soil with 20kg (a debe) of well decomposed farm yard manure and 120 g of Double Superphosphate (46 per cent P2O5) with the top soil. This will be used to cover the seedlings when planting. b. Planting- Carefully remove the plant from the container with the soil intact and place it in the centre of the hole and cover firmly with the mixture of top soil and farm yard manure.

Make a basin around the seedling for holding water. Transplanting is more successful when carried out during the long rains either early morning or evening. Plant the seedlings at the same depth as it was in the nursery and water the plant immediately after planting. In hot areas, shade the seedlings after transplanting. c. Use plenty of manure in the orchard throughout the growth of the trees.

mthuo@standardmedia.co.ke

Avocado is a versatile fruit with different uses across the food and beauty industry. The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) says Kenya has more than 40 avocado varieties that can suit different agro-ecological zones. However, Hass and Fuerte are most common due exporter and processor preference of the two varieties. Other avocado varieties available include Keitt, Reed, Booth 8, Simmonds, Pinkerton, Nabal, Puebla, Tonnage, Ettinger, Hayes, G6 and G7. The varieties used as root stocks include Puebla, Fuerte, Duke, G6, and G7.

For those interested in avocado farming consider the market preference before selecting the variety to grow.

Here are the guidelines to follow for optimal production.

1. Site selection Select the right agro-ecological zones for avocado growing as

A farmer tends to his hass avocado variety seedlings.

[Sammy Omingo, Standard]

the zone determines the soil type and rainfall amount and pattern. Avocados perform best in locations between 1,500 – 2,100m above sea level with 1,000mm of well distributed rainfall. This means the rain should spread throughout the year and not experience heavy down pour in some months.

Heavy rains are destructive to an avocado orchard. The site should have well drained deep soil about 1m of topsoil and a pH of 5.5-6.5. Avoid sandy soils with low organic matter. Waterlogged soils are detrimental to avocados and favour development of phytophthora root rots in your crop.

2. Spacing and Plant Population The varieties we majorly grow are spaced out at 9 metres between rows and 9 metres between plants. This results in a

4. Irrigation In areas where rainfall is not sufficient for growth of the fruit, plan for supplementary irrigation. Select micro-sprinklers as they are excellent precision irrigation tools that create a wetted pattern around the trees root zone. For the first five to six years, wet the ground a distance from the tree trunk equal to two feet times the age of the tree in years. For instance for a twoyear-old tree wet 4 feet from the tree trunk (This indicates root spread of the tree as it grows).

After six years, wet all the ground in the grove 24 inches deep or as deep as you find active feeding root fibres in your soil.

Since irrigation can make an avocado enterprise expensive, always irrigate the soil after checking different spots for soil moisture content with a soil

auger for at least a depth of 24 inches. Advanced farmers can install automatic soil moisture metres that advise/ alert them when to water the orchard.

Avoid surface irrigation methods like furrows and basin. They are undesirable and their comparative cost is high (water loss due to evaporation, use of too much water and labour required). In an avocado set up, farmers can consider use of portable underthrow sprinkler system. This is a normal sprinkler system that is shorter than the tree to ensure water does not travel a long distance through the tree leaves and branches but rather pours directly to the ground.

5. Mulching and weeding Use of herbicides in avocado orchards is highly discouraged.

Farmers are therefore advised to use pest/disease free mulch to keep weeds from growing.

Mulching also reduces the need for irrigation by conserving soil moisture. Farmers can select mulches from dry grass, sawdust and plastic mulch sourced from agro-supply outlets near you. Select what best fits your pocket and environment.

Top tip: Keep your plantation weed free always.

6. Pollination The type of avocado cultivars planted in an orchard will contribute to the expected yield. There are two types of avocado that flower at different times of the year (type A and type B). Mix both types in an orchard so that type A pollinates type B and vice visa.

Avoid self-pollination in your orchard. One can install bee hives in an avocado orchard for bees to help with cross pollination. Consult on the type as you purchase the seedlings. Type A varieties include Hass, Gwen, Lamb, Pinkerton, Reed, GEM and Harvest while Type B include Bacon, Ettinger, Fuerte, Sharwil, Sir Prize, Walter Hole and Zutano.

7. Intercropping and Pruning Since avocados start bearing fruits three years after planting, farmers can plan to intercrop the trees with other annual crops like beans, peas, kales, cabbages, cowpeas and other crops preferably nitrogen fixing crops. Nitrogen is an important nutrient for avocados. Intercropping allows the farmer to generate revenue from the farm instead of getting nothing for the first three years.

Apical bud of young plants should be nipped to slow growth and lead to a compact tree. Lower branches that interfere with cultural activities including irri-

gation should be pruned. The canopy is pruned to a height of 5-8 metres to facilitate fruit picking. The avocado tree is susceptible to sunburn therefore practice moderate pruning only when necessary. Heavy pruning should only be carried out to reduce the size of the tree after 12 to 15 years of bearing. Farmers can also prune the larger tree roots by cultivating to a depth of 50 cm around the edge of the tree canopy.

8. Pests and Diseases Most common pests that target the fruit are false codling moth, fruit flies, scales, thrips, spidermites and bugs. The most common diseases are scab, avocado root rot, anthracnose and cercospora fruit spot. With proper crop husbandry, you can keep pests and diseases at bay.

For more info send me an email on mthuo@standardmedia. co.ke [Njoki Thuo – Mwakughu (BSc Agriculture, Egerton, MSc AICM, UoN]

Avocado Chocolate Cookies Gladys Chebet at her avocado farm in Narok.

Since avocados start bearing fruits three years after planting, farmers can intercrop the trees with other annual crops. [Robert

Kiplagat, Standard]

Ingredients A very ripe avocado (100 g) 1 egg 1/2 tbsp Baking soda 1/2 cup Cocoa powder, dark 1/2 cup sugar 50 g Dark chocolate broken into chunks Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 1750 C or 350o F 2. Mix the avocado and sugar until smooth.

3. Add the egg.

4. Add the cocoa powder and baking soda.

5. Stir in the chocolate chunks.

6. Using two spoons scoop the dough and place it on the baking sheet lined with baking paper. This cookie does not spread as normal cookies so make sure to flatten them out.

7. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

8. Cool down and store in an airtight container if not in use.

Please note this recipe does not use wheat flour and is therefore gluten free.

Recipe adapted from thesmoothielover.com.

Author: Njoki Thuo – Mwakughu (BSc Agriculture, Egerton, MSc AICM, UoN)

4 Smart harvest

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020 The Standard

Crop farming

Smart harvest 5

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020 The Standard

BOOSTING CROP YIELDS

Want to increase avocado production? This is how tribute the fertiliser in the root zone. etting up a profitable avocado Young trees require fertiliser six times per S orchard requires careful planning and year, roughly once every two months, and the right site. Low and poor quality fruits

Lucrative business. Despite the huge potential, research shows that majority of small-scale avocado farmers do not participate in the export trade.

can be frustrating for farmers. Today, I will share strategies that will help you increase fruit productivity and quality.

Ensure sufficient lighting To have quality fruits, it is important that you ensure sufficient sunlight. This is achieved by proper canopy management which if left unchecked, the orchard will be crowded with loss in fruit quality and yield.

Flowering and fruiting occur in well-lit terminal sites on the surface of the canopy. In crowded orchards the productivity of side canopies is lost due to insufficient light reaching lower levels of the tree. There are several systems to manage tree size and improve light interception and penetration, including selective limb removal to maintain tree size and inter-row access; mechanical pruning and tree pruning.

Generally, proper spacing at the time of planting will ensure a good lit orchard.

Farmers sort avocados for export. Report shows that living near a well-functioning avocado farmers’ group is strongly associated with participation in export market.

New rush for avocados as farmers mint billions Some of the challenges farmers face include lack of trainings, market linkages and access to financing.

By Dominic Omondi and Peter Theuri

Newsdesk@standardmedia.co.ke

Few things have been as exciting in agricultural circles as the scramble for growth of Hass avocado in Kenya.

Preferred in Europe where Kenya exports it, Hass avocado might as well be the new gold.

So much so that even the Kenya Prisons started an ambitious agricultural plan to boost the production of avocado with an eye on the export market by multiplying and distributing seedlings to agricultural communities.

On target is the Hass variety which is exclusively for export market and whose prices in the international market are higher compared to most fruits.

It has been presented as the panacea to many a Kenyan farmer’s problem, with markets promised. There has been a need to feed the Americas, with Can-

ada a big consumer of the fruit, and with Mexico exporting a lot into Canada.

And Kenyan farmers jumped on the bandwagon.

At the local mama mboga, a piece will set you back Sh10, or Sh20, depending on the size.

Also seasons, where when there is an oversupply, the prices could hit Sh5 for an avocado.

Patrick Kariri, the Director of Prison Farms said the institution had earmarked 18 flagship rehabilitation centres across the country that would be involved in spearheading the campaign as well as production of agricultural products.

Headache of brokers “Of the 133 prisons across the country, we have set aside 80 whose main involvement is purely in agricultural production. And of the 80, we have set up 18 rehabilitation centres to be centres of excellence in promoting the Government’s Big Four Agenda of attaining total food security,” Kariri said when launching project.

But for people like John Maingi, the director of Food Africa, they have raked in some good money by exporting avocado to

[David Njaaga, Standard]

FACTS AND FIGURES 60,000 tonnes

The amount of avocados Kenya exported in In 2019, Holland was the chief importer with 13,306 tonnes of fruit.

crops in Kenya, with this number of families growing it by end of August last year, according to Census data.

Those families are spread in 34 counties.

14,500 hectares

88,326

The area under avocado in Kenya in 2018 which produced 234,000 tonnes of the fruit according to FAO

966,976

Avocado is the most grown permanent

Norway, Dubai, Bahrain,Hong Kong.

“But European market is the best as prices are good and they pay without difficulty,” Maingi said.

Some of the challenges they have faced include delayed payments or non-payment. They have also had problems with change in prices due to brokers who control most farmers.

“But we are developing our own farms and contracting our own farmers,” he said.

When you are just starting, you

Most of these avocado trees can be found in Kisii county which has this number of families growing the fruit.

grow the fruit in Bungoma.

68,000 tonnes The country’s avocado exports jumped 15 per cent to this amount over the 12 months to October, fetching the country Sh14 billion.

Kisii county

73,765

The second most number of families that

have to share packing facilities which you will have to go through before you set up your own. This is also a big challenges to them “Another challenge is the high amounts of cash required to establish cold storage facilities like temporary grading sheds, charcoal coolers, cold stores,” Maingi said.

As a youth in this business, Maingi would wish for government to assist them with trainings, market linkages and access to financing.

Bungoma county

Sh14b

Sh10 billion

The amount the country netted last year from 59,000 tonnes of the fruit exported.

5

The avocado export market in Kenya is dominated by five major exporters: Kakuzi, Vegpro, Sunripe, Kenya Horticultural Exporters, and East African Growers.

Kakuzi Vegpro Sunripe Kenya Horticultural Exporters East African Growers

Big 5 exporters This, he says, will help to setup structures that will ensure proper handling of fresh products, maintaining cold chain hence better quality products to the markets.

Other challenges include difficulty in accessing new markets because of the strict demand by importing companies who insist on GG certification Mitchell Cotts, a logistics and warehousing company, is keen on building cold rooms with an aim of preserving produce prior to

sale for farmers like Maingi. Avocado is among the key targets.

The avocado export market in Kenya is dominated by Kakuzi, Vegpro, Sunripe, Kenya Horticultural Exporters, and East African Growers.

Kakuzi, an agricultural company which produces, packs and exports a variety of green and black skin cultivars, was involved in a tiff that almost put avocado production in the country in serious jeopardy.

British law firm, Leigh Day, filed a lawsuit against Camellia –

the company with 50.7 per cent shareholding in Kakuzi – over alleged human rights abuses (79 claims).

Tesco, one of UK’s largest retail stores, responded to the suit by removing avocados supplied by Kakuzi from its shelves until the matter was solved.

That was a blow to avocado production in Kenya.

In 2019, Kenya exported 60,000 tonnes of avocados. Holland was the chief importer with 13,306 tonnes.

The other significant markets for the fruits were France (8,793 tonnes), UAE (7,190 tonnes), Saudi Arabia (5,127 tonnes), UK (3,704 tonnes) and Russia (3,041 tonnes).

The country also emerged as the third fastest growing exporters of avocado in the globe.

Dr Simon Kibet, the acting managing director at Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis), said that the export market for avocados is still large and farmers need not to worry.

“We export avocados to many destinations. The UK is just one of them,” he said reacting to the tiff that saw Tesco, one of UK’s largest retail stores, suspend avocados supplied by Kakuzi from its shelves.

Benjamin Tito, the head of directorate at Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA), says the local market for avocados is also big “as Kenyans have embraced eating of avocados due to their health benefits.”

Latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives show that a 90 kg bag of avocado is retailing at Sh3,600 in Kajiado, but goes for Sh432 in Nyamira. The market average is Sh2084.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Corporate Statistical Database, there were some 14,500 hectares under avocado in Kenya in 2018 which produced 234,000 tonnes of the fruit.

Official data shows that avocado is the most grown permanent crop in Kenya, with close to 966,976 families in Kenya growing it by end of August last year, according to Census data. Those families are spread in 34 counties.

Most of these avocado trees can be found in Kisii county where 88,326 fam-

ilies grow the fruit. It is followed

by Bungoma (73,765), Kakamega (63,886) and Murang’a (52,839).

The fifth one is Machakos where 45,243 households grow the fruit, followed by Bomet where 44,903 families grow avocados.

According to the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK), the country’s avocado exports jumped 15 per cent to 68,000 tonnes over the 12 months to October, fetching the country Sh14 billion.

This is compared to Sh10 billion that the country netted last year from 59,000 tonnes of the fruit exported over a similar period of last year.

Hosea Machuki, the FPEAK chief executive, attributed the performance to adoption of higher international quality standards.

The large companies that export avocados source them primarily from smallholder farmers, although some firms also source from larger growers or own plantations.

Unfortunately, the share of Kenya’s total avocado production that is exported is the lowest among the major avocado exporters. Only about 10 per cent of its total production is exported, while South Africa exports about 60 per cent of its avocado production; and Chile, 55 per cent.

Moreover, the share of Kenya’s total avocado production that is destined for export has been declining. older experienced farmer A study that reviewed the impact of smallholder farmers’ participation in avocado export markets on the labour market, farm yields, sales prices, and incomes in Kenya done by three authors — Mulubrhan Amarea, Jane Mariara, Remco Oostendorp, and Menno Pradhand — found that majority of smallscale avocado farmers did not participate in the trade.

It found that farmers who participate in export markets are generally older,

Peter Chege at his hass avocado nursery in Nakuru. The craze for avocado fruit has seen a rise in seedlings sellers many of home are not certified. [Mercy Kahenda,

Standard]

have somewhat larger farms, have received more training, and grow more avocado trees of the Hass variety, the favoured type in the European Union market.

“Living near a well-functioning avocado farmers’ group is also strongly associated with participation in export markets.

And we found that participation in export market results in increased labour inputs in terms of both hired and family labour,” read part of the report.

A 2019 study which was published in Land Use Journal last year also found that the difficulty of increasing the export share is often attributed to poor quality; high regulatory standards in export markets; the weak institutional capacity of small-scale producers; and inadequate capacity for, and coordination of, fruit exportation.

“The poor quality of Kenyan avocados is mainly due to the inadequate knowledge of modern production practices on the part of small-scale producers, who have traditionally grown their trees for domestic markets or for noncommercial purposes, and to the limited dissemination of market-preferred varieties,” said the authors.

Fortunately, the government, upon realising the underexploited export opportunities offered by the country’s sizeable production, has been supporting smallholder farmers by linking them to exporters through grower schemes.

Set irrigation schedule Proper irrigation schedule is necessary for quality fruits and increased yields. Always ensure that the young avocado trees receive adequate water to support their growth. Most avocados need irrigating. Plants require about 25mm water per week. Farmers should ensure that they have access to enough water year-round. Allow the soil to dry between water application intervals to avoid oversaturation. Irrigate before the avocado trees become water stressed. Irrigation is important during flowering and fruit setting. Decision as to when to irrigate can also be made using weather-based methods, soil-based methods or a fixed interval. Avocado roots are sensitive to waterlogging, do not over irrigate avocado trees.

Plant nutrition Ensure the plants receive required nutrients for proper growth and fruit development. Soil analysis must be done to determine the type and rate of fertiliser to be applied before any recommendation is given. Quantity of manure and fertiliser application is dependent on the soil fertility and the age of trees. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient in avocado. Fertiliser should be applied to established and active growing trees. Do not work fertilisers into the soil because this may damage the shallow roots. Fertigation is recommended method of application because it will dis-

trees that are four-years old and older should be fertilised four times per year.

Nutritional sprays that contain zinc, boron, manganese and molybdenum. Spray the young trees six times per year. For older trees, sprays containing zinc and manganese are beneficial. Spray older trees four times per year. Apply these nutritional sprays at regular intervals between.

Introduce pollinators The type of avocado cultivars planted in an orchard will contribute to the expected yield. There are two types of avocado that flower at different times of the year (type A and type B). Mix both types in an orchard so that type A pollinates type B and vice visa. Hence cross pollination leads to higher yields than self-pollination. The presence of bee hives within the orchard is recommended as bees are the main pollinators of avocado. Have at least one to two hives per acre available to your orchard.

One should avoid applying chemicals that are harmful to bees. Avocados have to be pollinated to set fruit. Introduce avocado varieties that pollinate your hass trees better than allowing your hass to pollinate itself.

Mulching and weed control Mulching is undertaken to conserve moisture and to add organic matter to the soil. Mulching will therefore improve water retention of soil and subsequently promote avocado growth. The most common mulch for avocado is well-dried grass that is pest free. Sawdust should be avoided as it decomposes and ties up nitrogen. Dry leaves may also be used as mulch. Cultivate around the trees to keep them weed free. Note that use of herbicides is not recommended.

[Georgy Mbakaya is an expert on sustainable agriculture and agricultural solutions]

Joel Mokaya tends to his hass avocado variety seedlings that will be distributed to farmers at Kisii Agricultural Training Centre. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

6 Smart harvest

Success stories No looking back for engineering graduate turned avocado farmer

J

eremiah Mbaka obtained a diploma in automotive engineering from Rongo University in 2007 and went to South Sudan for two years doing various jobs.

Mbaka, 40, returned home in 2010 and was employed as a sales representative with Sameer Africa in Nairobi for five years.

During his tenure at Sameer, he marvelled at the high tonnage of avocados being exported out of the country through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

In 2016, he resigned and went back to his Bomoseri village home in Magenche area in Bomachoge Borabu, Kisii County to venture into Hass avocado farming.

He started off with 300 avocado trees which matured in two years. From the avocado, he has been earning about Sh500,000 annually. Early this year, he planted 200 more avocado trees in a parcel of land he purchased using proceeds from avocado farming.

Mbaka said his avocado trees are on the family’s three-acre farm where he also plants vegetables, onions and sweet potatoes. He said neighbours thought he was crazy when he uprooted tea trees to start the project.

Early this year, he started rearing chicken after acquiring 500 chicks at the cost of Sh400,000, which are now seven months old. He will use the organic manure from the chicken project in growing Hass avocado.

“The vegetables I have planted in the farm serve as food to the chickens I am rearing which in return will provide manure to be used in the farm since I was informed that most of our customers in Europe prefer crops planted with organic manure,” said Mbaka.

Like Mbaka, Moses Nyang’au has also seen success in avocado farming. When he ventured into avocado farming in 2013, fellow villagers thought he had made a grievous mistake.

Seven years later, he has won

their respect and admiration.

Nyang’au, 31, currently has 300 trees of Hass avocado on three-quarters of an acre on their family five-acres farm at Rikenye Village in Rigoma Ward in Nyamira County.

He said he has been making over Sh400,000 annually since the avocado trees matured in 2016. He sells his avocado in Nairobi where buyers acquire them for export to European countries.

“Hass avocado is mainly for export and is the next big thing in farming,” he said, adding that he used to purchase local avocado varieties and bananas in homes and sold them in Keroka and Kisii towns after he finished secondary school in 2010.

He normally sells one avocado weighing between 200 grammes and 300 grammes at Sh15 to the dealers who normally make orders and travel to his farm.

Nyang’au said he never went to college after completing his Form Four studies at Mochenwa Secondary School in 2010, obtaining a C-plain grade.

Instead, he started doing business immediately after high school.

“I have been able to buy a lorry and a Toyota Probox, built an eight-room house and bought four grade cattle courtesy of the Hass avocado farming. I have no regrets whatsoever for engaging in farming full time,” said Nyang’au.

He said he uses organic manure made from ash and cowdung as manure and also to keep the avocado trees safe from infections.

The father of two said that he normally does most of the work in the farm and only engages casual labourers during weeding, pruning and harvesting of the crop. That, he said, minimises costs.

Nyang’au said Hass avocado is the most popular variety at the moment since it has a ready market in Europe compared to other varieties.

[Edwin Nyarangi]

Jeremiah Mbaka inspects his Hass avocado trees at his Magenche farm, Kisii County. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

Saturday, December 19, 2020 The Standard

I ditched politics to grow Hass avocado Since they started the lucrative venture 15 years ago, Paul Onduso and his wife have never looked back.

BBy Nathan Ochunge

nochunge@standardmedia.co.ke

After unsuccessfully trying his hand in politics in 2002, Paul Onduso was convinced by his wife to redirect his energies to a more lucrative venture.

All along, his wife had been against the idea of him joining politics. The couple agreed they would focus on something worthwhile in case things didn’t go his way in politics.

At the back of her mind was horticultural farming, a venture the couple embraced close to 15 years ago.

In 2017, Mr Onduso attended a workshop on Hass avocado farming in Nairobi and learnt about the huge potential the venture promised.

“I discovered there was readily available international market in the Middle East and Europe. I came back home and set aside five acres specifically for avocado farming in early 2018,” he said.

He chose to grow Hass avocado, a grafted avocado crossed with a local variety.

A visit to Shiachi Granary Avocado Farm in the sleepy village of Mundala in Kisa Central location in Khwisero, Kakamega County, paints a picture of someone who made the right choice of abandoning politics for agriculture.

Onduso currently lives in Nairobi but is able to monitor everything that goes on in his farm, thanks to technology.

Cellphone connection He can give instructions on what should be done through a cellphone connected to CCTV cameras at the farm.

Floodlights are mounted all over the farm.

“Hass avocado is the new goldmine for modern farmers, though many people in the region are still skeptical about embracing it. It does not require much labour and time to maintain and its demand locally and abroad is high,” he said.

Onduso said climatic conditions in Western are favourable for Hass avocado farming, which one cannot harvest twice a year.

Western region weather conditions are similar to that of Mexico, the world’s largest exporter of Hass avocado.

He said Hass avocado has at least 30 per cent oil content compared to local ones that

John Omuyonga, a Liaison Field Officer from Sasini Avacado Limited, inspects avocados at Shiachi Granary Farm in Mundala village, Kakamega County. [Mumo Munuve, Standard] have less than five per cent.

The oil is used to manufacture perfumes.

“A farmer is required to plant 150 stems spaced at five metres apart in an acre. After three years, each stem produces at least 500 avocados per season for the next 30 years. It’s packaged in a fourkilogramme box that goes for between Sh250 and Sh370,” said Onduso.

He said five to seven metre spacing ensures the avocado trees will still have direct access to sunlight even after they have made a canopy.

Onduso urged farmers who want to venture into Hass avocado farming to consider buying grafted seedlings that are at least six months old to

The challenges John Omuyonga,

Sasini Avocado Ltd Liaison Field Officer in charge of Western Region, cites challenges like lack of a steady market, inadequate farm inputs, pests and diseases.

Mr Omuyonga said the region has many guavas around the farms, which are breeding grounds for fruit flies, especially in rotten guavas.

“Adult fruit flies burrow into the Hass avocado’s flesh to lay their eggs, introducing bacteria that causes the them to rot,” he said.

increase success rate.

“There are three-week-old seedlings that go for Sh150 but have a survival rate. The six-month seedlings go for Sh300 but have a 90 per cent survival rate. In total, you need at least Sh132,000 for land preparation and buying seedlings,” he said.

Initial capital He added: “The initial capital investment is might be high but when the trees mature after three years, you will be making money with little investments.”

However, despite more farmers from the region embracing Hass avocado, they are still grappling with myriad challenges.

John Omuyonga, Sasini Avocado Ltd Liaison Field Officer in charge of Western Region, said the challenges include lack of a steady market, inadequate farm inputs, pests and diseases, theft and insecurity.

Mr Omuyonga said the region has many guavas around the farms, which are breeding grounds for fruit flies. “Adult fruit flies burrow into the Hass avocado’s flesh to lay eggs, introducing bacteria that causes the them to rot. When the eggs hatch, the larvae eat the avocado fruit from inside out. Sometimes, they lay the eggs in the flowers during fruiting and when the fruit matures, it has black spots and therefore not suitable for export,“ said Omuyonga.

He added: “Hass avocado

loves and hates water at the same time. Too much rain during flowering leads to shedding of flowers resulting in significant reduction in production. Fungal diseases have also become problematic to most farmers during rainy season, which is the norm in the region.”

George Onduso, a farm manager, said farmers from the region have not developed their own markets overseas and therefore rely on those in Central Kenya who dictate prices for them.

He said they are sometimes forced to sell their produce at a throw-away price, saying the problem they are facing is occasioned by the fact that there are few farmers who have ventured into Hass avocado farming for commercial purposes.

The elite According to George, Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties have now secured their markets and sell directly to European markets without going through middlemen, saying their exports are airlifted out of the country through Eldoret and Kisumu airports.

“Only the elites in the region have ventured into the business.... Others only bring their goats and cows to graze in our avocado farms. Goats love avocado leaves and can eat everything,” he said.

He said dogs also eat the avocados when they are fruiting, saying they are destructive and that they have caused them huge losses.

The Adaptable Kienyeji Birds on a 3-Phase Feeding Diet Improved traditional chicken (Improved Kienyeji) rearing has increased in the recent years due to consumer needs response for poultry products that are wholesome, flavoursome and raised in certain animal welfare standards.

Description Number of birds kept Overall Mortality Number of birds slaughtered Average weight per bird slaughtered Total weight of birds slaughtered Performance indicating Factor (PIF) Feed/Kg of meat (FCR) Age at slaughter in days Cost per chick (price to farmer) Feed Cost/Kg Costs Cost /Chick (After Mortality) Feed Cost/Bird Management costs Cost/bird slaughtered Total cost Incurred Gross Revenue Sale of birds at Ave cost of Kshs 500/Kg Total revenue from sale of birds cropped Less total costs incurred Profits/Net Margin

By Helen Miseda Hmiseda@standardmedia.co.ke

T

his has given rise to intensive, semi-intensive, free range & organic poultry production systems. An improved Kienyeji poultry bird is an improvement of the traditional chicken (‘road runners’) which are bred to resist a number of diseases, adapt to the different poultry production systems and at the same time have a better growth rate for commercial viability.

Other breeding characteristics might include the naked neck, colour of the birds or any other unique attributes.

The feeding of the Kienyeji bird (Improved or Traditional) has been a major challenge to many farmers who do not realise the full growth potential of these birds. Unga Farm Care (EA) Ltd. manufactures a 3-phase (Fugo Kienyeji) feed that targets the different growth stages of a Kienyeji bird (Kienyeji Chick, Kienyeji Grower & Kienyeji Layers). This focus ensures that the Kienyeji bird grows fast and ultimately becomes a profitable poultry venture.

In this article we will highlight the feeding regime for a Kienyeji bird. Upon chick arrival at the poultry unit, feed and water should be available for immediate intake while the right brooding temperature set for chicks’ comfort.

Fugo Kienyeji Chick Mash

is fed from Day 0-Week 6. It provides balanced nutrients that support the proper development of strong Kienyeji chicks’ internal organs and better immune system to resist early chick mortalities.

A good start of a Kienyeji chick gives a better milestone for better growth rates.

Kenbro chicken (Improved Kienyeji) in a pen. [PHOTO, COURTESY]

Fugo Kienyeji Grower Mash

is fed for Kienyeji meat production from (Week 7- Slaughter) and for Kienyeji eggs from (Week 7- Start of Lay). This feed provides high quality supplementary nutrients that support proper frame development of a Kienyeji bird and faster weight gains. Depending on the farmer’s preferred production system, a Kienyeji bird can adapt to free range at this stage.

Fugo Kienyeji Layers Mash

is fed to Kienyeji birds from the start of lay at 10% egg production (Week 24-27) and continued during egg production phase.

This feed provides high quality supplementary nutrients that gives strong shelled Kienyeji eggs and yellow coloured egg yolks if raised in either of the production systems.

“This focus ensures that the Kienyeji bird grows fast and ultimately becomes a profitable poultry venture.”

Feed introduction through the different stages should be gradual and done within a period of 3-days.

This gradual transition gives the Kienyeji bird an easy start to the new diet phase. Clean water consumption in a Kienyeji bird influences their growth rates. The use of Selko-pH (blend of organic acids) in the drinking water improves water quality, promotes protein digestion, and ensures a good gut microbial balance. We recommend the use of Vigosine in periods of environmental stress.

All these benefits lead to better feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the Kienyeji rearing period which indicates the level of farm management.

As mentioned earlier, Improved Kienyeji bird is genetically bred for different growth rates. they recommend the KENBRO (Improved Kienyeji) bird to farmers that is supplied by Kenchic Ltd. and which has excellent growth rates as indicated from a recent trial done comparing it with other competing breeds in the Kenyan market for meat production.

For more info contact: Muraria Daniel email: dmuraria@unga.com.

Kenbro Breed A Breed B Breed C 200 200 200 200 2% 5% 4% 3% 196 190 192 195 2.16 1.69 1.78 1.58 424 321 341 308 171 96 109 89 2.3 3.0 2.9 3.2 54 55 55 55 100 100 100 100 57 57 57 57

Breed D 200 4% 193 1.45 281 73 3.5 55 100 57

102 283 43 428 85,548

105 292 43 441 88,102

104 290 43 436 87,260

103 286 43 431 86,218

104 286 43 432 86,492

1,082 844 212,000 160,439 85,548 88,102 126,452 72,337

889 170,700 87,260 83,440

791 154,190 86,218 67,972

727 140,270 86,492 53,778

Figure 1 Kenchic’s Kenbro and competing breeds trial, March 2020.

Unga Farm Care (EA) Ltd. is committed to offer technical support and trainings to poultry farmers across the Country. They remain the market leaders in animal nutrition expertise in the region with international linkages to give our farmer the best and consistent nutritional products.

8 Smart harvest

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020 The Standard

Focus on counties

Brought to you by

The

MARKET TRENDS

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Where buyers meet sellers Farmer: Nicholas Rotich Font used: Produce: Green Maize Contact: 0722152150

Aa

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Location: Kilifi

Farmer: ElderRegular Martin Aura Produce: Yams Contact: 0711303668 Location: Embu

Pantone #045304

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Why avocado is ‘gold’ for Murang’a residents Pantone #B3B3B3

C - 61% M - 11%

C - 0% M - 0%

Y - 100% K - 15%

Y - 96% K - 2%

Y - 0% K - 100%

R - 4%

R - 97%

R - 0%

G - 83%

G - 158%

G - 0%

B - 4%

B - 27%

B - 0%

C - 96%

M - 28%

Farmer: Kiruri Frankie Produce: Dry maize Contact: 0708689513 Location: Busia

C - 27% M - 19%

Y - 16% K - 3% With the current R - 179% demand for the G - 179% B - 179% avocado fruit and the initiatives the county government has put, the deal can only get sweeter for the farmers.

By Boniface Gikandi

bgikandi@standardmedia.co.ke

Farmer: Kiruthi Senior Produce: Grafted apple seedlings Contact: 0790509684 Location: Murang’a

For every ten households you count in Murang’a County, at least half have some tree nurseries or mature avocado trees on their farm. Here, avocado is like gold.

Statistics show Murang’a County is the leading producer of avocados in Kenya, with more than 80 per cent of the produce destined for the export market.

Kandara and Gatanga are the high producers of the fruit, with this year farmers taking home Sh2.8 billion compared to previous Sh3.9 billion.

Having realised the potential of avocado, Governor Mwangi wa Iria made a deliberate effort to invest heavily in the fruit by securing viable markets for the produce.

Farmer: Kennedy Ondiek Produce: Tilapia Contact: 0728878688 Location: Homa Bay

Farmer: Ephantus Kuria Produce: Onions Contact: 0729878778 Location: Mweiga, Nyeri

Farmer: Precious Charles Produce: Shangi potatoes Contact: 0728962769 Location: Nairobi

Farmer: Marcy Muya Produce: Eggs Contact: 0790127733 Location: Nairobi

Compiled by: Nanjinia Wamuswa

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Formed cooperatives Additionally, Iria organised avocado farmers into cooperatives according to their regions and sourced for contractual buyers for the fruit, locking out brokers who took advantage of the farmers by offering low prices.

This attention also attracted interest of all players in the avocado value chain.

There are now leading certified nursery operators in Murang’a, who sell seedlings to farmers, which has in turn led to increased production.

The main varieties in the county are fuerte and Hass, with few others planting pinkerton and hardy.

To transform the sector, this year, the county drafted regulations to control the venture but traders raised objections through petitions.

The regulations required players in the value chain to be registered by the county government and Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).

The proposals are still before the county assembly awaiting debate.

In 2019, the governor flew to Columbia to market the produce. While on this mission, he was crowned the Avocado Ambassador owing to his passion for avocado farming.

In Kenya, he was made the national patron of the Avocado Society of Kenya.

But what is the experience of

Murang’a County Governor Mwangi wa Iria distributes free avocado seedlings to farmers recently.

Seedlings distribution is part of the strategy that has led to increased production. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard]

farmers on the ground?

James Kamau, a leading farmer in Kihumbu ini ward in Gatanga, says since he tapped into the export market, business has been good.

“The best produce fetches good money in the market. If you harvest quality avocados, you are sure of entering into a contract with exporters,” he says.

For the past five years, Kakuzi Ltd has been the largest buyer of avocados in the county. But the recent fiasco has dealt a blow to farmers.

Sh2.8b

 The amount Gatanga farmers have made from avocado sales.

Sh3.9b

 Amount avocado

Murang’a farmers made in 2018

81,097,981kg  Kenya exported this

Avocados from Kakuzi were banned by Tesco supermarkets in Britain following a human rights abuse case lodged before UK High Court by some former employees, who claimed to have been tortured.

The case is still ongoing.

Another promotional strategy the governor has employed is distribution of seedlings to farmers.

Challenges of avocado sector

1. Inadequate linkages and reliability of supply

2. High post-harvest losses

3. Weak contractual

agreements between smallholders and national exporters

4.

amount of avocado majority sourced from Murang’a county in 2018

Inadequate sectorial organization, market information and marketing strategy

 The national avocado

5. Expensive and

28,319,770

production last year  In Muranga County, Kandara and Gatanga are rated the high producers of the fruit.

unreliable transportation systems, which erode competitiveness

6. Insufficient under-

standing of quality requirements in the export market by producers

So far, he has distributed more than 1.5 million seedlings to farmers.

Quality Agriculture officer John Waihenya says more farmers are interested in avocado farming due to high returns, following government interventions.

AFA has been conducting inspections of farms to ensure quality production of the crop by the growers.

Regulators Interim Director General Antony Muriithi says with the support of the county government, a lot has been achieved.

“Quality has been an issue but now there are improvements. We want to maintain world-class fruit in the market,” says Muriithi.

According to Avocado Society of Kenya Chief Executive Officer Ernest Muthomi, in 2018, Kenya exported 81,097,981 kilos of avocado, majority sourced from Murang’a.

“In Kenya Murang’a leads in production of avocado followed by Nyeri, Kiambu and Kisii counties,” he says.

Elijah Kamau, a leading exporter of the produce, says buyers have interest in Murang’a avocado because of quality.

He says a team of experts visits the farms to check the avocados and ensure they are being grown in line with quality standards.

“The farmers are also divided into groups to ensure coordinated harvesting to meet the increasing demand in the market,” adds Kamau.