Kiambu County weather and soils have been proved to be very favourable for fruit growing.
Speaking to Journalists this morning from Thika KARLHO center, Director of Agriculture, Elizabeth Mwangi, said farmers who have planted a few orange and avocado trees for home consumption are also reaping some economic gains because the production is very high.
Mwangi noted the county government through her department has during this rain season decided to venture into orange and avocado farming through buying and distributing the two fruits seedlings to farmers.
“The department of agriculture has purchased 1,636 oranges and 1,300 avocado tree seedlings and distributed them to farmers across the county at a cost of Sh 100 per piece,” she said.
Mwangi said the demand for orange and avocado tree seedlings is very high and many farmers are registering to be supplied with more.
“The agricultural office is organising to supply more fruits seedlings to farmers to meet their demand before the end of the rainy season,” she added.
Mwangi said her office is planning to have the farmers organise themselves into production groups for ease of training them on fruit husbandry and value chains of the fruits production.
The director said there is demand for macadamia seedlings by farmers and preference has been given for purchase of 500 seedlings from Equatorial Nut Processors nurseries in Maragwa.