Organic farming has been an important part of agriculture across the globe for some time now. The sustainable farming method of growing and producing food stuffs and vegetables without using any chemicals has always garnered both appreciation and interest from many people.

These days, people from all walks of life are more than ready to invest in healthy and chemical free produce that can benefit their overall health in the long run, and are doing their bit to promote healthy living within the society.

In Kenya, where the agriculture industry is the biggest in terms of human resource and total farming area, organic farming has been the most natural method of growing crops using natural fertilizers and manures like cow dung and organic compost.

Following the green revolution and introduction of modern technology during the early 1960s in this sector, the Kenyan agriculture industry managed to transform for the better. It gradually witnessed a shift from traditional farming methods to introduction of synthetic fertilizers in an effort to safeguard and guarantee the safety of crops from various pests, diseases, and crop destroying insects.

These policies and initiatives ensured faster production of crops and accelerated the development of modern farming methods. Nevertheless, the usage of various chemicals & pesticides during different stages of farming and packaging made such products highly contaminated by the time it reached end consumers; and posed great danger to their overall well-being.

What Hinders Growth of Organic Farming in Kenya

Despite the above highlighted positive facts, many agronomists are unconvinced about sustainability of growth and future of the Kenyan organic farming industry mostly due to lack of awareness about this sector, and consequent lack of branding and promotion for higher realization.

Furthermore, the study also stated that while the national government has taken some effort to create awareness about organic farming, this space requires the intervention of the county governments as well. More than anything else, they can help in encouraging farmers to focus more on organic farming practices and minimize utilization of chemicals and pesticides.

http://oxfarm.co.ke/tree-fruits/hass-avocado-farming/marketing-process-of-hass-avocado-in-kenya/

What Customers Don't know About Fruits and Vegetables

  • 99.9 per cent of consumers are not aware about the source of produce, like fruits, vegetables, & greens that they buy and consume.
  • Most consumers do not make any efforts to know or find out about the source of farm produce.

Current Market Situation in the Organic Fruits & Vegetables

Most organic stores in Kenya are similar to retail shops that includes buyers & sellers. Since the organic produce sellers do not grow the produce sold through such stores, even they are not the most reliable source when it comes to seeking information about organic produce. The main reason for this lies in the fact that such store owners usually do not have control over the consistency in quality, color, texture, and / or finish of the final product.

  • Additionally, some of these organic stores in Kenya are about the hype, and rarely about the quality of the produce being sold.

Going by such facts, it is evident why creating more awareness about organic farming in Kenya has become a matter of extreme importance these days. However, things have certainly begun to look bright on this front, at least in some counties in Kenya.

http://oxfarm.co.ke/tree-fruits/hass-avocado-farming/state-of-hass-avocado-farming-in-kenya/

Emergence of New Players in The Kenyan Organic Farming Space

Over the past couple of years, it has been observed that the organic farming sector in Kenya is entering a transformation stage due to an increase of new ventures that have begun to disrupt the market with their one-of-a-kind offerings. In an effort to promote a healthier lifestyle, these players are playing a pivotal role by providing consumers with naturally grown wholesome organic produce.

Future of Organic Farming in Kenya

Kenya currently holds a prominent position among countries that actively practice organic agriculture globally. However, with only a mere 0.4 per cent of total agricultural land area designated for organic cultivation, it is evident that this industry still has a long way to go in terms of growth.

Moreover, since the organic food segment is still at a nascent stage in Kenya, both the government and other private players will have to develop a strong policy framework that can benefit all involved. For now, it can be safely concluded that the organic farming industry in Kenya holds immense potential to grow, provided it receives steady investment, and benefits from both existing and new initiatives, which can further its growth.