Avocado farming in Kenya, as well as around the globe, is gaining prominence, mostly because of the nutritious benefits of the fruit and being that it is a very profitable income generator. The fruit is gaining popularity as a healthy super food and as such, the annual global demand is increasing at a faster rate than the annual global supply. This results in the fruit fetching high prices on the world market.
Despite the increase in the prices, the fruit’s demand continues to grow. Kenya has become the 6th largest producer of avocados in the world and as such, there is a great deal of talk and action around avocado farming in Kenya. Even the government is making a lot of efforts to retain our reputation for good quality and sustainable production for both domestic and global market.
Avocado farming is a long-term project that takes 2 years for the trees to come into production. To reap healthy rewards, a farmer needs to adopt specific practices so as to maintain a healthy plantation that yields top production for many years.
The avocado tree requires cool to warm temperatures, with the
minimum not falling below 7°C and a maximum of 30°C (the optimum range is 15°C
to 25°C). This climate is experienced in many areas that have traditionally not
been growing avocado. But now with the opening up of the Hass avocado market,
even these areas have taken on avocado farming for export. Only extremely high
areas could be left out since the trees are not tolerant to frost, especially
those adapted to humid tropics. The sensitivity of trees to low temperature is
influenced by a wide range of factors including:
·
The age of the tree, its vigor,
its growth stage and its health.
·
The duration and frequency
of low temperature, and the speed with which they fall to near or below zero.
Temperatures that are constantly above 36°C also have disastrous effects.
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| Hass Avocado seedlings |
Rainfall Requirement
Avocados are highly adapted to different rainfall conditions, however, the rain should be an average of 1,000–1,600mm per annum and well-distributed throughout the year.
Irrigation is essential where rainfall is not adequate. Although
an avocado tree cannot tolerate waterlogged soil, it needs at least 25mm of
water every week during periods of insufficient rainfall such as
in eastern Kenya.
Too much rain during flowering leads to shedding of flowers
resulting in significant reduction in production. Fungal diseases also normally
become problematic in very wet weather.
A short period of dry weather of up to two months usually triggers
flowering especially in tropical climates not subject to marked falls in
temperature.
The avocado tree needs high relative humidity at flowering (70-80
per cent), then moderate levels during the fruit swelling stage. Too much
humidity encourages the proliferation of pests and diseases such as
thrips, scales, cercospora spot, scab and anthracnose.
WIND
The avocado is sensitive to strong winds, which may lead to
breakage of branches or flowers and fruits drop. Whole trees may even be
uprooted. Hot dry winds may cause desiccation of flower buds or abrasions.
LIGHT
Avocado needs plenty of light, 2,000 hours of sunshine a year (average of 6
hours a day) are sufficient. Intense radiation causes scorching of leaves and
fruits.
SOIL
An avocado tree can grow successfully in a variety of soil types and in soil with acidic or alkaline pH levels, but the tree requires soil that has good drainage. Avocados are more sensitive to water-logging than citrus hence soils should be well-drained. Poorly drained soils are associated with the presence of the Phytophthora fungi, which causes root or stem-end rot. To manage this during this rainy season you can trenches at the edge of the farm to direct excess rain water off the farm.
Suitable soils are medium sandy loams with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5.
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| Grafted Hass Avocado seedlings |
POLLINATION
An avocado tree needs to cross-pollinate with another variety for optimal fruit
set. Although avocado flowers have both male and female flower parts, each part
functions at a different time during the day.
The trees are grouped into Type A and Type B, depending on the
time of day their male and female flower parts are reproductively viable.
Planting Type A tree and Type B tree increases successful pollination if enough
insect pollinators, such as bees, are present.
FERTILIZERS
To obtain good growth and high fruit yields, it is important to supply the necessary nutrients. Several factors should be taken into account when deciding on fertilizer rates.The existing fertility of the soil should be determined. The age
of the trees, fruit yields, the physical and chemical characteristics as a
function of climate, determine nutrient losses through leaching, which
affects uptake by the trees.
It is advisable not to top-dress with nitrogen in the first four
to five months after transplanting. After this period, 60g of 26 per cent of
Nitrate (N) fertilizer should be applied every three months when the soil
is moist. About 15 to 30kg of well-rotten farm yard manure (FYM) should also be
spread around the tree
The use of FYM is strongly recommended for young orchards since it improves physical characteristics of the soil and supplies nutrients to trees, promoting the uptake of micro-nutrients.
How to grow Avocadoes for Export
Cultivation Requirements
Land Preparation
This should be similar to
the preparation of land for the other crops. In the case that it’s a newly
cleared land, a farmer is advised to plant an annual crop for example, maize,
peas or watermelon so as to achieve a good tillage of the cleared land. In the
case of strong winds, ensure that there are necessary wind breakers such as
hedges are in place.
Planting Materials
Avocados can be grown from
either seedlings or from the seeds. However, Hass avocados, which are preferred
in the export market, are best grown from grafted seedlings. Grafting improves
the variety by increasing its resistance to diseases, hence increasing the
yield and increases its adaptability to various soils. The seedlings should be
inspected by a professional so as to ensure that they are free from diseases.
If you want to be sure you are getting high quality grafted Hass avocado
seedlings, buy them from Richfarm Kenya nurseries.
Planting Holes
The standard spacing for
grafted Hass avocado in Kenya is 5 by 5 meters. With this spacing, 150 avocado
trees can be planted in an acre. However, tree spacing within the line can
range from 3m to 5m while the space between the lines should be at least 5m and
at most 7m. The best practice is to dig the holes in a straight line. This
will make tending to the trees and harvesting easy.
The holes should be at
least 2 feet but can be up to 1m deep. Soil samples should be taken when
digging the holes, while being careful not to mix the topsoil with the subsoil.
Send the samples to a legitimate soil testing center for pH testing.
Planting
The farmer should use two
buckets of farmyard manure properly mixed with the topsoil, 250gm of double
superphosphate fertilizer, and a certified insecticide to fill the planting
holes. Planting should be after the onset rains when the rainwater has properly
penetrated the soil. Irrigate the newly planted seedlings until the first
shoots appear. Sometimes, the young grafted Hass avocado seedlings might need
to be tied up with sticks to support them.
Mulching
Thick organic mulch is
recommended in young plants so as to reduce evaporation off the soil and
prevent very high and low root temperatures and salinity build up. The mulch also
reduces weed competition.
Pruning
Pruning starts at the
planting stage when shoots from the rootstock of the grafted seedlings are
removed in order to redirect all the growing energy to the top part. It is also
done before flowering and upon completion of harvesting. Pruning allows light
to penetrate the orchard, improves yield and provides a superior tree
structure. We have extensively explained avocado pruning in this article: How to Prune and Train Avocado Trees for Maximum Production
Thinning
This involves removing some of the already formed fruits so as to
reduce competition for nutrients. I know it’s a painful thing for a farmer to
pluck off fruits that have already formed. However, it is necessary to do so in
order to have a number of fruits that can be perfectly supported by the tree to
grow to the desired large size.
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PESTS AND DIESEASES
DISEASES
Avocado Root Rot
It is the most serious disease that affects the crop.
Causes: Fungal pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi, thrives in poor
drainage conditions.
Symptoms: Pale and wilted leaves, branch die-back and small fruits
are the consequences.
Management: It has been suggested that applying a layer of gypsum
and a 10 to 15cm layer of an organic, coarse mulch underneath the avocado
tree’s canopy, but several centimeters from the tree’s trunk, supplies calcium
and suppresses the development of root rot.
2. Anthracnose
Causes: Pathogen
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides,
Symptoms: infects an avocado tree’s fruit, flowers, small branches
and foliage, leaving spots, lesions and decay. This disease thrives in areas of
high humidity.
Management: Pruning limbs to at least 2 feet off the ground
increases air circulation at the base of the tree and removing debris from
underneath the tree prevents pathogens.
3. Bacterial Soft Rot
Symptoms: Gray to black, mushy, foul
smelling rot on fruit; fruti has darkened metallic sheen. Bacteria may
be present on leaves but do not cause damage unless plant is stressed or
bacteria enter the plant through a wound
Management: no treatment for disease; use certified seed; disinfected tools and cuttings; employ crop rotation; remove plant debris from soil.
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| Flowering Hass Avocado at Richfarm Kiritiri |
PESTS
1.
Avocado Thrips
Symptoms:
Feeding
scars on fruit; scars begin as scabs or leathery patches and spread across
fruit; adult insect is orange-yellow in color with distinct brown bands and
reaches 0.7 mm (0.03 in) in length
Cause:
Insects. Insect thrives in cooler
temperatures; insect may undergo 6 or more generations per year
Management:
By addition
of coarse organic mulch about 6 inches thick below trees may help to reduce
survival of thrips pupating in soil; if insecticides are to be applied, a
selective insecticide should be selected to reduce damage to populations of
natural enemies; Sprays of Entrust are organically acceptable
2. MITES
Symptoms:
tree dropping leaves and becoming defoliated causing sunburn damage to exposed
bark and fruit; mites cause the development of circular chlorotic to brown
spots on the undersides of the leaves and fruit surface; dense colonies of
mites produce silk webbing which may appear as a silvery spot; large mite
populations can cause the entire tree canopy to appear lighter in color.
Cause: Arachnid. Persea mites are most damaging on
Hass and Gwen varieties.
Management: ensure the tree is adequately fertilized, pruned properly and irrigated to avoid unnecessary stress to the tree which can make them more susceptible to mite attack; persistent infestations may require treatment with an appropriate chemical; organic controls include several types of horticultural oil.
HARVESTING
Harvesting starts at 3-4 years from planting but a good yield is obtained from the 6th year onwards. It is not easy to tell when the fruits are ready for harvesting unless they are of the varieties that change color at maturity. Harvest a sample and keep at room temperature. If they soften within 7-10 days without shriveling then the fruit of that age are ready for harvesting.
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| Hass Avocado Tree |
MARKET
As I covered earlier the
government is making a lot of efforts to retain our reputation for good quality
and sustainable production for both domestic and global market and make it a very profitable agriculture venture. We had
seen Kenya's Horticulture Directorate temporarily halt exports of avocado
varieties including Fuerte, Hass, Pinkerton and Jumbo, according to a report
from Business Day Africa. This was in order to prevent the harvesting of
under-ripe fruits and possible blacklisting by international buyers who are
part of the big market for our Kenyan Hass avocadoes among others.
The ban remains in place until the first week of December 2024, when the situation will be reviewed.
How to Get the Highest Hass Avocado Yield
If you need any help on
avocado farming and to get high quality grafted Hass avocado seedlings, call
Richfarm Kenya on 0724698357/0723213602
Make sure to also visit our Farmer's Resources Page to download a full guide on avocado farming in Kenya: it's free for download and you are also allowed to share the pdf file.
- Cost per seedling- ksh.150, Hass Avocado
- Seedlings per acre- 150 trees per acre
- Spacing- (standard tree spacing is 5m by 5m)Tree spacing from 3m to 5m, between lines: 5m by 7m.
- Fruit price- Ksh. 200-220 per kg locally
- Yield- 200-500 avocadoes per tree after maturity ( from 4th year)
- Common pests- mites, avocado thrips
- Common diseases- Anthracnose, bacterial soft rot, avocado root rot.
- Lifespan- deciduous
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| Hass Avocado Harvest |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the climatic requirements for farming avocadoes in Kenya?
- What are the cultivation requirements in avocado farming?
- What are the common pests and diseases affecting avocado farming?
- How long after planting can I start getting the first fruit in avocado farming?
- Can I export my avocado fruit?
- Is avocado farming one of the most profitable fruit farming in Kenya?
- How is the local and export market?
- How is the government involved in the control and marketing of quality avocado fruit?
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