How to Start Avocado Farming in Kenya: Detail Guide

In Kenya, you can buy avocados on every corner and find them in almost every dish. The avocado is not only one of the main ingredients in Kenyan cuisine but it also now gets a lot of love and attention in the rest of the world.

Fresh avocados come in different sizes, types and varieties. Hass avocados are the most well-known avocado variety. The Hass variety accounts for the majority of avocados grown in Kenya mainly for export.

Some of the other common avocado varieties grown in Kenya are:

• Fuerte
• Puebla
• Pinkerton
• Reed
• Jumbo or Kienyeji

How to Identify Hass Avocado

Hass avocados have grown from the rarest of crops to one of the most popular fruits of its kind. The Hass avocado is one of the most delicious varieties of avocado available. It is also one of the newest varieties of avocado because it didn’t even exist before the 1920s.

Here are some characteristics of the Hass avocado:

• Bumpy, fairly thick skin that turns from green to purplish black when ripe
• It is round or oval in shape
• The flesh closest to the skin is a lime green color and as it nears the central pit it develops a rich creamy yellow tone
• It’s flesh has a buttery, creamy texture
• It has a smooth, nutty and sweet taste
• It peels easily
• It has a large, round seed
• Hass avocados come in varying sizes but they typically weigh about 200g

Why is Hass Avocado Better?

Hass avocados are the most popular avocados around. They account for 80% of the avocados eaten worldwide. Here are some of the reasons why Hass is seen as the king of avocados:

1. It is in higher in fat than other varieties. This fattiness gives it a smoother, creamier texture.
2. Hass avocado trees have high yields compared to other varieties.
3. It has a longer shelf life
4. It has the most culinary uses
5. It is good for cooking because it is easy to mash and whip and richer in taste
6. It withstands long distance shipping much easier than other varieties
7. It has one of the longest harvesting seasons

Benefits of Hass Avocado Farming in Kenya

The Hass avocado is now widely sought after by both buyers and producers. The good returns from Hass avocado are attracting more farmers in Kenya into the business. Here are some benefits of Hass avocado farming in Kenya:

1. Hass is the most demanded avocado variety in Europe especially in The Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK). The Hass variety is very suitable for ripening. Europe is expected to be the biggest importer of Kenyan avocados in 2023.
2. Hass avocado farmers earn two times more than farmers growing other avocado varieties. The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) says that avocado exports in 2019 were worth Sh10 billion of which 70% were Hass avocados. Avocado exporters in Kenya buy Hass avocado at Sh10-Sh17 per fruit compared to Sh3 for Fuerte.
3. The national government has negotiated with top avocado exporters in Kenya to buy directly from farmers therefore eliminating middlemen. Through KEPHIS, the government monitors and educates farmers and exporters on global market standards and regulations compliance. Some county governments have offered free grafted Hass avocado seedlings to farmers and give extension services.
4. Hass avocado trees takes little space therefore small scale farmers can also venture into growing Hass avocados.
5. Hass avocado trees can be intercropped with crops like beans, vegetables. This diversification of agriculture ensures a steady cash flow for farmers.
6. Growing Hass avocado is easy and require less labor and time to maintain than the traditional cash crops like tea and coffee.
7. Avocado industry players like the Avocado Society of Kenya (ASK) offer Hass avocado tree seedlings to its registered farmers at subsidized prices. The society also:

• Facilitates workshops for farmers and exporters
• Connects farmers to exporters, other farmers and other players in the avocado industry in Kenya.

Hass Avocado Growing Areas in Kenya

On the bright side, the success of the Hass variety has enabled avocados to become a global fruit. Avocado trees require tropical or subtropical climate because they can’t tolerate either freezing or extreme heat.

Kenya’s climate is perfectly suited for Hass avocado farming because it lies at the equator. Hass avocados thrive in Kenya because different areas experience either equatorial or tropical climates.

Ecological Requirements of Hass Avocado

Hass avocado trees flourish in regions with the right combination of mineral-rich soil, plentiful sunshine and mild climate (moderate humidity, cool nights and warm days.) Avocado does well under the following conditions:

• Altitude range between 1000-2000m
• Well distributed rainfall throughout the year of 1000mm-1600mm
• Irrigation in dry season or in areas with inadequate rainfall
• Optimum temperatures of 20°C-24°C
• Loose, sandy or loamy soils, well-draining with pH ranging 5-7
• Minimum of 6 full hours of sunlight a day

The areas in Kenya under Hass avocado cultivation are:

• Murang’a
• Nyeri
• Kiambu
• Kisii
• Meru
• Kenya region
• Nakuru
• Eldoret

The other regions that Hass avocado farming is taking shape include:

• Nandi
• Bomet
• Uasin Gishu
• Trans- Nzoia
• Bungoma
• Siaya

Other areas where Hass avocados can do well under irrigation are:

• Machakos
• Embu
• Parts of Mbooni
• Kang’undo
• Mua Hills
• Kathiani

How to Identify a Hass Avocado Tree

With the right conditions and a little work, a Hass avocado tree will mature and be ripe for success. Hass trees are dense and ever-green. They also:

• Have glossy, dark green leaves that have a vein-like pattern
• Their flowers are small and yellowish-green
• They are fast-growing
• They can grow up to 9m tall

How to Plant Hass Avocado Tree in Kenya

Avocados can either be grown from seedlings or seeds. Through grafting, Hass avocado farmers in Kenya are able to improve the variety by:

• Increasing its resistance to diseases
• Increasing its adaptability to different types of soils
• Improve yield

Hass avocado seedlings should be inspected to ensure that they are free from diseases.

Planting Hass Avocado in Kenya

The journey of Hass avocados meant for export is a natural wonder that combines careful cultivation, delicate handling and careful attention to the ripening process. The result is the unique buttery flavor and creamy texture that has made Hass the most loved avocado variety.

When planting Hass avocado, here are the steps to follow:

1. Prepare the land by removing stumps and plough the land up to 30cm Ensure there are windbreakers such as hedges if the area has strong winds.
2. Dig holes 2ft by 2ft by 2ft.
3. Separate the top soil and the subsoil. Put the topsoil on the left side and the sub-soil on the right.
4. Mix top soil with two debes (buckets) of well-decomposed manure and a handful of NPK (20:10:10) fertilizer
5. Fill back the soil-manure-fertilizer mix
6. It is now time to transplant your Hass avocado seedling. Farmers are advised to transplant during the start of the rainy season. In Kenya is at the end of April. This will enable your Hass avocados to establish themselves well on the farm.
7. Remove the polythene, plant the Hass avocado seedling carefully and firm the soil around the hole
8. Water well

Hass Avocado Tree Spacing in Kenya

Spacing of Hass avocado in Kenya is usually 5m by 5m from one tree to another and from one row of trees to another. They are planted in a rectangular pattern so as to allow movement of equipment between the trees during pruning, thinning, inspection and harvesting. The tree rows should be planted as close as possible in an east-west direction for maximum sunlight on both sides of the trees.

Field Management

1. Mulching

Applying mulch around the trees will prevent loss of soil moisture and keep the root system cool. It will also control the growth of weeds.

2. Supporting

The young plants should be tied to treated poles or bamboo sticks for support.

3. Irrigation

Irrigation should be done after the first shoot appears. Water is crucial in several stages of tree development and the fruiting cycle.

4. Fertilizer Use

Apply one wheelbarrow of well decomposed manure twice a year during the onset of long and short rains. You should also top-dress with 120g of CAN fertilizer.

5. Pruning

Pruning is done at the early stages before flowering to remove premature flowers and fruits and after harvesting. Side branches are pruned to allow light to penetrate, improve yield and give the tree a superior structure. The tree canopy height should be maintained at 70% of its row width.

6. Thinning

This is removing some fruits that have already formed so as to reduce competition for nutrients. It ensures high quality fruits because too many fruits end up as small sized fruits.

7. Weed control

Regular weeding should be done so as to reduce competition between the tree and weeds for water and nutrients.

8. Pollination

Hass avocado trees are self-pollinating. But for a more plentiful harvest, farmers are advised to grow Hass with another variety like Fuerte for cross pollination. Cross pollination results in better quality fruits and that’s why keeping bees in an avocado orchard is important.

Pests and Diseases Control

In Kenya, pest control of Hass avocado trees is either organic or using pesticides. Some of the major pests that affect Hass avocado are:

• Avocado thrips
• Fruit flies
• False codling moth
• Scales
• Red spider mites

The common diseases that affect Hass avocado include:

• Root rot is a fungal disease that is caused by poorly drained soils and mostly occurs in areas prone to flooding. Trees have pale-green and wilted leaves and the branches are sunburned and die back. It is controlled by uprooting affected trees. It can be prevented by keeping trees dry and treating seeds for propagation with hot water and fungicides.
• Anthracnose is a fungal disease that attacks the fruit. The fruit develops dry, dark brown spots leading to abnormal development. Mature fruits are most likely to be attacked but young fruits also drop. It is controlled by proper orchard sanitation and use of fungicides.

Harvesting Hass Avocados in Kenya

Hass avocado trees begin bearing fruit after three to four years. Hass avocado trees in Kenya flower in October and are ready for picking between June and September.

Since Hass avocados don’t soften on trees, its not easy to identify the right harvesting period. Here are some indicators of maturity:

• Since Hass avocado is a dark variety it starts to change color from green to black or purple.
• Fruits that float on the surface when immersed in water are usually mature. Immature fruits sink or float below the surface.
• Pick a few fruits and leave them to ripen in a warm place. If they soften evenly within a week at room temperature (about 20°C), then the trees are ready for picking.

Hass Avocado Spacing Per Acre in Kenya

The standard spacing for Hass avocado in Kenya is 5m by 5m. With this spacing, 150 Hass avocado trees can be planted in an acre.

Hass Avocado Yield per Tree in Kenya

Hass avocado trees are very productive and can fruit all year round. The first harvest comes after the second or third year. A farmer can harvest 70-100 fruits per tree.

After the fourth or fifth year, one tree can yield 400-800 fruits per season. That means a farmer can harvest between 60,000 and 120,000 fruits per acre. After the six to seven years, a Hass avocado tree can yield 1000 fruits per year.

Yield per tree increases gradually year after year as the tree gets older. Proper weeding, pests and disease control and feeding of trees will yield more fruits per tree. This will also improve the fruit size which in turn will yield better incomes.

Hass Avocado Market

In Kenya, avocado is one of the most consumed fruits and Hass avocados are readily available in the market all year round. Locally, Hass avocado is sold in the market from Sh10-Sh50 depending on the size and quality. Kenya exports Hass avocados mainly to:

• European Union
• The Middle East
• Russia
• Singapore
• Egypt
• Hong Kong