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Farmers in Nakuru county have been urged to venture into avocado farming as an alternative nutritional supplement and lucrative enterprise. 

Kuresoi South sub-county agriculture officer Grace Lang’at, said the region has what it takes to embrace avocado farming and advised farmers to exploit the venture. 

She notes that with the government having entered into a business partnership with countries such as China and South Africa, there is a ready market for the product. 

Main challenge

“The main challenge as at now is that seedlings prices have gone up since 2018, with many farmers unable to secure the same for their vast acres of land.

They are also forming cooperatives to allow them to sell their produce as a group,” says Lang’at. 

Lang’at urges farmers to plant avocado trees on their farms saying the yield and economic returns are assured with minimal production cost. 

She says more than 20,000 seedlings have been planted in Kuresoi South since 2915, when the project kicked off.

“At least 1000 farmers from the region benefited from over 21,000 free Hass avocado seedlings from the county government,” she says. 

Japhet Mutai, an avocado farmer in Kiptagich ward notes that there is a ready market for the produce abroad. He urged fellow farmers to capitalise on avocado farming.