The Avocado Society of Kenya (ASK) has called on farmers across the country to take advantage of the ongoing heavy rains and scale up avocado planting to meet the rising global demand.
Speaking during a farmers’ engagement forum in Meru, ASK Chief Executive Officer Ernest Muthomi praised the government for its continued distribution of free seedlings, saying the initiative had significantly boosted farmers’ capacity to venture into avocado farming.
Muthomi urged farmers to embrace the favourable weather conditions and make use of the government support to increase the country’s avocado production.
“I am calling on farmers to take advantage of the heavy rains and plant more avocado the government is also issuing seedlings in many climate-friendly regions, including here in Meru, so let us embrace this initiative.” said Muthomi.
He noted that avocado farming remains one of the most lucrative agribusiness ventures in the country, with the potential to raise farmers’ earnings and support the growth of the national economy.
Rising Global Demand
Muthomi said Kenya has already secured market access in China and India an achievement he described as a major milestone in the country’s agricultural export blueprint.
He added that with global appetite for avocados increasing steadily, Kenya must expand production to maintain its competitive edge and tap into new opportunities.
“The demand for avocado is growing globally and we want the government to open more international markets for the crop,” he said.
He noted Kenya mainly grows three varieties which includes Fuerte, Jumbo and Hass with Hass being the most sought after in international markets.
Ambitious Export Targets
The CEO lamented that Kenya now plans to double its avocado export earnings from the current Sh15 billion to Sh30 billion annually over the next five years adding the target comes after the country successfully expanded its markets abroad.
Muthomi expressed confidence that the country’s export potential could grow even further, saying ASK is optimistic that annual avocado export revenues could eventually hit Sh50 billion.
“In the next five years, we aim to ensure the country earns Sh30 billion annually from avocado farming. Currently, avocado production earns Kenya about Sh15 billion,” he said.
He added that the opening of Chinese, Malaysian and Indian markets had unlocked fresh opportunities for local farmers, noting that many consumers abroad are now turning to avocado because of its numerous health benefits.
Uneven Regional Production
The ASK boss also highlighted disparities in production across counties, urging more regions to scale up their investment in avocado farming.
He noted that while Murang’a County produces avocado worth Sh8 billion annually, Nyeri about Sh300 million.
“In Murang’a, farmers earn between Sh8 go 10 billion annually, but Nyeri produces Sh300 million despite the fact that their soil is rich. If more farmers invest in this crop, they will earn more compared to what they get from other agricultural produce,” he said.
Crackdown on Rogue Traders
He warned that the export of unripe avocados by unscrupulous traders has been damaging Kenya’s reputation in the international market.
“We have some greedy traders who have been exporting unripe avocado. This has been tarnishing our name as a country. We want our customers overseas to have a good avocado-eating experience and they we urge farmer to harvest mature fruits ,’ he said.
He called for stricter enforcement from the government for quality standards to ensure that all exports meet international requirements and maintain Kenya’s position as a leading supplier.
Supporting Farmers
ASK continues to support farmers through training programmes, technical guidance and market-linkage initiatives aimed at helping them meet global export standards.
The society also encourages best farming practices to increase yield and ensure consistent high-quality production.
Muthomi reiterated that avocado often referred to as “green gold’ remains one of the most promising crops for Kenyan farmers, particularly during periods of favourable weather such as the ongoing rains.
“As a country, we have the potential to dominate the global avocado market. What we need now is increased production, quality assurance and more farmers joining the value chain,” he said.
