22/08/2021
*HOW PROFITABLE IS HASS AVOCADO FARMING IN KENYA?*
I bet you have heard of the golden hass avocado. The hass avocado is the most popular Kenyan avocado produced mainly for export purposes. It has a good market in continents such as Europe compared to other types of avocados.
This type of avocado was first grown in Guatemala. Hass avocado farming is really profitable to farmers because it has a ready international market for the locals.
Hass avocado exports have actually taken the place of major cash crops such as coffee. The government has negotiated with firms such as Kakuzi to buy the fruits from farmers, which has helped in eliminating brokers thus yielding more returns for farmers.
Farmers are required to deliver quality fruit and in return Kakuzi buys them at a very good price. Payment is always done seven days after delivery. This is guaranteed payment.
The most prominent feature of hass avocado is that it turns dark purple when ripe. Hass avocado offers several benefits which also apply across the family of avocado.
*They are a significant source of good cholesterol.
*High in protein and mineral content as compared to animal proteins.
*Used in the manufacture of facial and hair oil.
*They boost farmers economically besides earning foreign currency for the exporting country.
*What is the difference between a hass avocado and a regular avocado?*
Regular avocados are larger in size and smooth skinned while the hass avocados are smaller and have a pebbly skin that turns dark purple when ripe.
However, the biggest difference is the nutritional value in terms of fat content. For instance, two or three slices of a hass avocado contain 4.6 grams of fat and the same portion of a regular avocado contains an estimate of 3 grams of fat.
*How to plant hass avocado tree*
Avocados can be grown from either seedlings or seeds. Through grafting, farmers are able to improve variety by increasing its resistance to diseases and increasing its adaptability to different types of soils.
Planting materials should be inspected to ensure that they are free from diseases. Seeds should also be treated with hot water not exceeding 50 degrees Celsius.
The Kenya Avocado Society is in a fresh drive to recruit farmers to plant Hass avocado variety at a time when the demand of the crop is high in international markets such as China with populations keen on consuming healthy fruits and food.
According to Oxnard, the largest distributor of avocados in the world, avocado sales to China this year is expected to double compared to a similar period last year. China is one of the world’s largest importer of avocados.
In Kenya, the price of a 90kg bag of avocados has risen to Sh.2,560 the highest price since 2014 according to the Directorate of Horticulture.
Kenya produces an estimated 115,000 metric tonnes of avocados annually, 70 per cent of which is grown by smallholder farmers.
In Africa, Kenya is the second largest exporter of avocados after South Africa.
In February this year, shortage of the commodity led to ban of exports as some farmers were accused of picking immature fruits which were not suitable for both local and international markets.
“We are recruiting farmers all over the country to plant avocados in a five year investment plan that is set to earn farmers more income than maize for instance while at the same time increasing forest cover” said Meshack Kamau, the sales and marketing officer at the Kenya Avocado Society.
To join the society one has to pay an annual subscription fee of Sh.1,000 and will get seedlings at a subsidized price.
“We sell avocado seedlings to members at Sh.200 compared Sh.300 for non-members,” said Kamau.
The Kenya Avocado Society can be reached on +254 723 491 549 or +254 722 575 544
*Land preparation*
Land preparation should be similar to that of other crops. It is advisable to plant an annual crop before in order to achieve the desired tillage if the land is newly cleared. Also ensure there are windbreakers such as hedges if there are strong winds in the area.
*Planting holes*
Farmers are advised to plant the trees in a straight line to ease crop husbandry and harvesting. For hass avocados in Kenya, the rectangular pattern of planting is preferred as it eases movement of machinery between the rows.
This method also makes it easy for pruning, thinning and inspection.
*Hass avocado tree spacing*
Spacing depends on factors such as climatic conditions and soil fertility. It may range from 6m by 7m to 8m by 10m. The planting holes should be around 60cm to 70cm.
*Planting*
Use two buckets of farmyard manure mixed with topsoil, 250gms of double superphosphate fertilizer and a certified insecticide to fill the holes.
Ensure that planting is done after the start of rains when the rainwater has penetrated the soil properly.
Be careful not to damage the roots when filling up the holes. Irrigation should be done after the first shoot appears and the young plant should be tied to sticks for support.
*Pruning*
This starts at the planting stage if the roots are too long and do not fit the planting hole. Trees at an early age are trained in order to maintain a good framework. Pruning is mainly done before the plants begin to flower and upon completion of harvesting.
The general rule is that the tree canopy height should be 70% of row width to allow dissemination of light. Pruning is beneficial to the trees as it enables them to yield and provide a superior structure.
*Thinning*
It involves removing some of the already formed fruits to reduce competition for nutrients thus producing high-quality fruits. Lack of thinning leads to the production of small-sized fruits.
*W**d control*
This reduces competition for both water and nutrients. W**d control can be done by cover cropping, mulching and mechanical cultivation.
*Harvesting*
The Kenya hass avocado flowers on October and are ready for picking between June and September. Farmers should identify the correct harvesting period because the avocado fruits are picked raw and ripen off the trees.
*Return for an acre with 150 trees.*
An avocado tree typically produces about one million flowers yearly but as I explained earlier, you have to do thinning.
It involves removing some of the already formed fruits to reduce competition for nutrients thus producing high-quality fruits. Lack of thinning leads to the production of small-sized fruits.
The least Forecasted returns for the first 10 years in a one acre land is as follows. (Prices of hass fruit range between ksh.8 – Ksh.20 in local market depending on size.
• The first two years – growth stage
• 2nd year (harvest of 50 fruits per tree) – Ksh.60,000
• 3rd year (harvest 200 - 250 fruits per tree) – Ksh.240,000
• 4th year –(400 fruits per tree) – Ksh.480,000
• 5th year – (800 fruits per tree)- Ksh.900,000
• 6th year – (1000 fruits per tree) – Ksh.1.08 million
• 7th year –(1100 fruits per tree) – Ksh.1.3 million
• 8th year –(more than 1300 fruits per tree) – Ksh.1.5 million
• 9th year – (more than 1500 fruits per tree) – Ksh.1.8 million
• 10th year – (more than 1750 fruits per tree) – Ksh.2 million
Total cumulative returns in 10 years is Ksh.10 million
*Note that:*
We have calculated the prices of each fruit at a minimum price of Ksh.8 as of the local market. These prices can range between Ksh.8 to Ksh.20.
The life span of a hass avocado tree is more than 50 years. Let your idle land become profitable by investing in hass avocados.
The good thing about hass avocado is that its market is growing each day and big companies like kakuzi and sasini have embraced this opportunity by planting thousands of their acres under hass avocado due to stability of the hass market and high returns.
The hass avocado is the least stressful form of farming because it’s a tree with least form of management, you just have to visit your shamba when harvesting.
