Maize growers in Uasin Gishu and Nandi counties have slowly heeded to calls of diversification of their farming practice with some already embracing avocado farming that has an awaited international market.
The Carbohydrate-rich crop which has traditionally been the main part of the meal on the tables might soon diminish in what seems maize farmers are gradually shifting to avocado amid the politics and woes surroundings agricultural sector.
A maize farmer in Kapseret, Mark Ruto says he opted out of maize farming in favour of avocado in his 3 acres of land.
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He now expects to reap big in the next five years’ time when the trees mature.
”I have already set an acre piece of land ready to grow avocado rather than over-relying on unpromising maize production,” Ruto said adding that he also grows five acres of maize just for subsistence and the surplus is sold to the local businessmen to cater for household needs.
Avocado being the most recent crop of high demand, Ruto admitted that it takes a long time to mature.
Some of the farmers have already purchased seedlings to grow on their farms looking forward to the government to establish international market frontiers to export.
An acre piece of land accommodate 120 trees and each tree can bear an average of 300 fruits when maximally grown to maturity, each fruit goes at an average of Sh100 per kilogram.
Ruto says that Avocado is resistant to various climatic condition and the diseases invade during seedling stage and while flowering.
Topdressing is done towards flowering to enhance pollination and rapid development of fruits to attain credible size.
Avocado crafted seedlings are now on high demand and people who traditionally grow maize have shown interest in investing in it as well as tea and macadamia so as to evade prolonged hitches that have derailed agricultural sector in Kenya.
Avocado is locally sold in Kenya and there is also an international market including Europe, France, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Russia.
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