Smart farms

: 11 June 2018; Hits: 36640

Kenya Avocado Society recruiting farmers to plant the crop as demand soars

The Kenya Avocado Society is in a fresh drive to recruit farmers to plant Hass avocado variety at a time when the demand of the crop is high in international markets such as China with populations keen on consuming healthy fruits and food.

According to Oxnard, the largest distributor of avocados in the world, avocado sales to China this year is expected to double compared to a similar period last year.

China one of the world’s largest importer of avocados, imported 32,100 tonnes of the fruit in 2017 up from 31.8 tonnes in 2011.

In Kenya, the price of a 90kg bag of avocados has risen to a three and half year to Sh2560 the highest price since 2014 according to the Directorate of Horticulture.

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Meshack kamau avocado society

Meshack Kamau displaying Hass avocado fruits at the 2018 international flower expo in Nairobi. Photo: FarmBiz Africa

Kenya produces an estimated 115,000 metric tonnes of avocados annually, 70 per cent of which is grown by smallholder farmers.

In Africa, Kenya is the second largest exporter of avocados after South Africa.

Kenya’s dried avocado export has been rising, with the country selling 46.7 tons to the international market in 2016.

The figure was higher by 7.8 tons than what was exported in 2015. Kenya earned 6.5 billion shillings and 5.2 billion shillings in 2016 and 2015 respectively, according to the Kenya national bureau of Statistics.

In February this year, shortage of the commodity led to ban of exports as some farmers were accused of picking immature fruits which were not suitable for both local and international markets.

“We are recruiting farmers all over the country to plant avocados in a five year investment plan that is set to earn farmers more income than maize for instance while at the same time increasing forest cover in the currently from the current 6.2 per cent to 10 per cent,” said Meshack Kamau, the sales and marketing officer at the Kenya Avocado Society.

To join the society one has to pay an annual subscription fee of Sh1000 and will get seedlings at a subsidized price.

“We sell avocado seedlings to members at Sh200 compared Sh300 for non-members,” said Kamau.

According to the society, a farmer can plant 100 trees in a one acre piece of land.

In this, one tree can yield between 600 to 800 fruits per season meaning a farmer can harvest between 60,000 and 80,000 fruits per acre in two and half years’ time.

With each fruit retailing at an average of Sh50 a farmer can thus earn between three and four million shillings per acre per season.

The Kenya Avocado Society can be reached on +254 723 491 549 or +254 722 575 544

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Monday, 21 February 2022 [quote=Paul nyamweya]Need help on how to plant the hass variety in kisii Mynumb...

Sunday, 20 February 2022 Need help on how to plant the hass variety in kisii Mynumber 0721351480

Wednesday, 15 September 2021 [quote=Sophy Lucy]Please I want to join. Avocado group. Help[/quote] Hi Sophy, ...

Thursday, 09 September 2021 Please I want to join. Avocado group. Help

Monday, 16 August 2021 [quote=Ezekiel Aran]Please advise on how to join the Avocado Society Planted 10...

: 08 June 2018; Hits: 9914

Nutritionist makes flour from traditional vegetable through value addition

Amaranth can easily be mistaken for just another pesky weed. And while those who don't see it as a weed may plant amaranth as a vegetable, Ann Muthoni, a nutrition expert, is seeing it through to its full potential, by making a unique flour out of it.

“My company produces one tonne of amaranth flour products every day, which includes toasted amaranth porridge flour, whole-grain puffed amaranth, baby weaning formula and fortified maize flour, packaged in 250g, 500g and 2kg,” said Ann

She sells a 2kg bag of fortified maize flour at a whole sale price of Sh140 to supermarkets which later retail it for Sh147.

After arriving in Kenya in 1997 from Sweden, where she first heard about the flour, Muthoni looked for Dr. Davidson Mwangi, who had already ventured into amaranth farming. For four years, she accompanied Dr. Mwangi in teaching and sensitizing farmers on amaranth farming. She later took to farming herself, making her first harvest in 2003.

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Using the sales and marketing skills she had learnt while assisting Dr. Mwangi, Muthoni started outsourcing amaranth grains from farmers across the country and selling them to local processing companies. And in 2008, she had enough exposure and experience to start her processing plant, in Ruai, under the brand name Annico Enterprise.

She now sells the highly lucrative and nutritious flour at various supermarkets across the country, including Tuskys, Clean Shelf and Kamidi.

amaranth flour

Amaranth flour. Photo: courtesy

While being a high-value crop, Ann's success demonstrates that amaranth was worth the investment.

Exports values of fruits and vegetables increased by 23.3 per cent and three per cent, respectively in 2017 according to the 2018 economic survey report.

A 2016 FAO report on promoting the growth and development of small holder farmers and food security stated that high value crops are regarded as a key to economic empowerment of small holder farmers. The report observes that most small holder farmers - especially in the developing world - are reluctant to change, which ultimately can damage their farm production.

The FAO report cites a case study of small holder farmers in South Africa who have stuck to maize farming for many years, receiving low yields due to depleted soils. The report also offered those farmers an alternative, through planting legumes such as peas and soya beans, which are high value crops and ideal for nitrogen fixation.

Although she has contracted farmers across the country to deliver her the produce, Ann lamented that the lack of a steady supply of amaranth leaves is slowing her down. She, however, describes the business as rewarding, after getting contracted to stock 52 Tuskys supermarket branches across the country.

Not only does it prove its worth in sales, but amaranth seeds are highly nutritious. Amaranth flour is low in cholesterol and sodium, and is also a good source of iron, magnesium and phosphorus, as well as manganese and folic acid, both essential nutrients for mothers and children.

Muthoni’s success shows that good earnings can be made from high value crops, most of which are ignored by many farmers. Grain amaranth, after planting, grows with little maintenance. It can be harvested thrice in a year and a kilogram retails for Sh50.

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: 07 June 2018; Hits: 8731

Flower, fruit and vegetable producers and exporters seek government support to boost the sector

kenyan flower

Stakeholders in Kenya’s horticultural sector are seeking out incentives from government ahead of the fresh budgetary allocation for the 2018-2019 financial year in an effort aimed at driving even more growth for an already thriving industry.

The sector kept up an improved performance in 2017 to gross revenues totaling to Sh82 billion which places the sector only second to tea in agricultural exporting earnings for government.

According to 2017,2016 statistics by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), a total of 159,961 and 133,658 metric tonnes of cut-flowers valued at Sh82,249 and 70,829 million were exported in January - December 2017 and 2016 respectively, this represent an increment of 20 per cent and 16 percent in volume and value respectively.

A total of 56,945 metric tonnes of fruits valued at Sh9,009m were exported between January and December 2017while a total of 87,240 metric tonnes of vegetables valued at Sh24,065m were exported in 2017 compared to 78,790 metric tonnes valued at Sh23,367m the previous year. This represents an increase of 11 per cent in the quantities sold and three per cent in value.

To keep up the impressive performance in 2018, industry players have identified the need for impetus including incentives on taxation, farming implements and supportive infrastructure.

Speaking during the opening of the 2018 International Flower Trade Expo (IFTEX), Kenya Flower Council (KFC) chief executive officer Clement Tulezi said the provision of tax reliefs and government support would maintain the growth curve in the sector.

“Taxation has been an area pushing us back. The proposed changes will for example eat into our profits rendering our products uncompetitive in the international market. We also want investments into reliable energy sources and general infrastructure,” Mr Tulezi said.

Government is on the other hand seeking to expand the industry’s access to the international market in a bid to capitalize on the position of Kenya’s horticulture and fresh produce sector in the globe.

The country’s reputation as a consistent producer of cut flowers, fruits and vegetables for the export markets has remained on a pedestal with the flower section for instance being only second to the Netherlands in revenue earnings.

Stakeholders in the industry however identify the need to further build on this position by seeking new markets for the sector.

International Trade Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo said the government is looking to further broaden the horticultural base by reaching out to more markets.

“We are looking to broaden the export base by bringing in more products for export. Of the Sh600 billion goods we exported, seventy percent went only to thirteen markets. We want to take advantage of the markets that we have while reaching out to more markets,” Mr Kiptoo said.

The European Union (EU) has remained as the principal destination for the country’s horticultural produce with the market taking in 20 percent of the all exports from the country.

However, with the market witnessing a number of shake-ups in recent years including Brexit, the government has been keen to source for new markets to mitigate potential losses that may accrue from the changes.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) remains as a viable outlet for Kenyan exports to the United States market even as the government continues to explore fresh markets.

Horticultural industry stakeholders are in the meantime pursuing opportunities presented by the expected direct flights to the US to further build on their hold of the American market.

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