Kenya began commercial production of avocado about 40 years ago. But now avocado is the one of the most important fruits for both local and export markets. Avocados have grown to represent 17% of Kenya’s total horticultural exports.
70% of the avocados are grown by smallholder farmers who have 5-20 trees per homestead. 20% of avocados grown in Kenya are by medium scale farmers who have over 100 trees. Large commercial avocado plantations which have 10 hectares or more in production account for 10%
Characteristics of an Avocado Tree
- The avocado tree grows to about 20m.
- The tree has oval leaves arranged in a spiral on the tips of branches.
- Avocado trees produce clusters of small, green-yellow flowers at the end of twigs
- The avocado is a fleshy, pear-shaped fruit with a single large seed.
- The fruits can be purple to green in color with smooth or warty skin depending on variety.
Types of Avocado in Kenya
There are three varieties common in Kenya. These are:
- Hass avocado
- Fuerte avocado
- Jumbo or Kienyeji avocado
Hass avocado is the main export variety. But all these varieties find a market both in Kenya and internationally.
Hass Avocado
- The tree grows tall and requires cutting back
- It is different because its thick textured skin turns from green to purplish black when ripe
- It is oval shaped with a small or medium sized seed
- Easy peeling
- Great taste
- Creamy, nutty, high-fat flesh
- Long shelf-life and makes shipping easy
- One of the longest harvest seasons
Fuerte Avocado
- It is the second most popular variety for export
- The tree is broad, very productive and susceptible to both Anthracnose and Scab diseases
- It is pear shaped with a medium sized seed
- It has a thin, smooth green skin
- Easy to peel
- It has creamy, pale green flesh
- Excellent taste
Other varieties grown in Kenya include:
Pinkerton Avocado
- It is long, pear shaped with a small seed
- It has a slightly thicker, green skin with some pebbling
- The green skin deepens in color as it ripens
- Easy to peel
- Creamy, pale green flesh
- Excellent, rich nutty flavor
Reed Avocado
- Similar to Jumbo or Kienyeji avocado
- It is round with a medium sized seed
- It has thick green skin with slight pebbling
- Skin remains green even when its ripe
- Easy to peel
- Creamy flesh with great taste
- Largest of all avocados
Puebla Avocado
- Small compact fruit resembling Hass
- Its skin is thin, black smooth when ripe
- It has a velvety flesh with nutty aroma and a rich butter taste
Uses of Avocado
- The avocado is eaten raw as a fruit when ripe
- It is used as an ingredient to flavor soups, ice cream, milkshakes and desserts
- It is used as a side dish in meals
- Avocado oil is used in various methods of cooking
- Avocado oil is used for hair and skin nourishment
Avocado Propagation in Kenya
The recommended method of propagation is by grafting. Clonal plants are obtained from budding and grafting from a parent tree to ensure the offspring are of the same high quality.
In plantations, seeds can be sown directly in the soil. Two to three seeds are usually sown and thinned later to leave the strongest seedling for grafting. Seeds may also be sown in containers and grown for two to three months before planting at the final site.
Avocado Harvesting in Kenya
The main avocado season in Kenya is from March to September. The Fuerte variety starts fruiting as early as February while the Hass is normally available from May.
Due to the difference in climatic conditions of various avocado growing zones in Kenya, there are fruits throughout the year.