Avocado Seedlings

Nakuru, Thursday, June 15, 2023

KNA by Veronica Bosibori

Nakuru county government today distributed over 5000 Hass Avocado seedlings to more than 600 farmers in Subukia sub-county worth Sh. 80,000. 

The Agricultural Chief Officer Kibet Kurgat said the seedlings would take less than two years before they mature and start producing fruits, adding that they were determined to make the county a leading producer of avocadoes in the next five years, hence the continued support for farmers.

Kurgat advised the farmers to at least endeavour to plant an acre of avocados on their farms in order to multiply their incomes in less than three years.

He noted that with proper spacing, 150 avocado seedlings can be planted on an acre and urged them to use 3 to 5 meters, while the spacing between the lines should be at least 5 to 7 meters. 

The officer told the farmers that they would harvest an average of 300 to 400 kgs per acre in the next two to three years, saying that a four-year tree can produce 200 to 500 fruits each plus in the 10th year, when the yield stabilizes a tree can produce an average of 1000 fruits. 

Apart from that, he noted that the avocado value chain was of immense importance to the economic growth of the country because the industry is poised to double the exports from sh. 15 billion to sh.30 billion and strengthen the financial status of the farmers.

Subukia Ward MCA Ms Isabela Makori who was also present said despite her ward being the leading exporter of French beans, the farmers have realised the importance of diversifying to avocados, due to their higher demands in the world market and better returns.

The MCA said the orchards create jobs by demanding labor for farming operations, harvest, packaging, transportation, and marketing, and commended her ward for having maintained their cooperative societies even as they collapsed in other areas, due to astute management and good neighborliness in the area.

Courtesy ; K. N. A