In Uasin Gishu, Joshua Kulei grows summer flowers and avocados for the international markets at his 200-hectare Sololo farm. Two years ago, he planted 65 hectares of avocados.

Mr Andrew Tubei, the farm general manager explains that besides avocados generating better earnings than maize, the crop also contributes to lowering carbon foot-print.

Mr Tubei advises farmers to embrace the crop noting that from one acre one can get a net of Sh1 million from avocado compared to one acre of maize which take about eight months to mature only for a farmer to earn Sh100, 000.

Growing consumption

“One can start small then expand slowly. Avocado consumption globally is growing. We have done own statistics, 10 years ago in Europe they used to consume on average a kilo per person, currently they are in 5 kilogramme per person,” he observes.

Crop diversification away from maize is considered that besides empowering the local farming community, it is also a long-term solution in land reclamation and the effects of climate change.

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BUSINESS DAILY – https://bit.ly/3pI4Fdl 

By : STANLEY Kimuge | BARNABAS Bii

Date : Monday October 04 2021