Uasin Gishu County CeC in charge of Agriculture Cyril Cheruiyot addressing the press in Eldoret town on Tuesday, November 14, 2017. [Photo: Elvanis Ronoh]
Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) has started a program of planting avocado seedlings in every ward in Uasin Gishu County.
HCDA Western region manager Barnabus Kiptum said they want to ensure farmers in the region embrace avocado farming.
"We are going to plant 200,000 avocado seedlings in Uasin Gishu County, each ward getting 6,700 seedlings," he said in Eldoret town, Tuesday.
"Over 30 nurseries one in each ward will be used for the project. We want residents to embrace horticulture farming which has more profits than maize and wheat," he added.
He, however, said the authority will partner agricultural experts to help farmers in how the crop is planted.
"There is ready market for avocado not only in Kenya but abroad and they should use Eldoret International airport to export the same," noted
Uasin Gishu County CeC in charge of Agriculture Cyril Cheruiyot said they will offer advice to farmers on how to plant and take care of the crop once planted.
"We will ensure the program succeeds by ensuring that our field officers give required information while needed. avocado gives more income compared to any crop in the county," noted Cheruiyot.