President Uhuru Kenyatta

President Uhuru Kenyatta while he was opening Nairobi ASK show in October 2018 asked Kenyans to embark on Hass avocado farming. President has noted that avocado market in Europe and other major countries has grown tremendously. Through the minister of Agriculture and Trade, President noted that his government would work closely with farmers and exporters in enhancing people lives through farming.

Former Premier Hon Raila Odinga

[caption id="attachment_3235" align="alignright" width="275"] Former PM planting Hass Avocado[/caption]

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has urged farmers in Western Kenya to embrace hass avocado farming to improve their income generation levels.
Speaking during the launch of avocado tree planting at Nyamira Girls’ High School and Bar Opuk Primary School in Bondo constituency, Odinga said avocado had been discovered to be the new ‘gold’ in the world. He encouraged the farmers to plant it in large quantities to be able to serve the region as a cash crop. “Hass avocado farming is a cash crop. Avocado is the new gold that has been found in the world… so we want to see this place become more and more green,” said Odinga.
Urging the residents to paint the region green, the National Super Alliance (NASA) principal stated that he wants the people of Western Kenya to plant many avocado trees so that they can organize to put up an avocado processing factory in Kisumu.
Odinga said that if the programme was properly embraced, then the region could produce more avocados that could even be exported to other parts of the world, adding that “we want to have a flight emanating from Kisumu direct to London carrying Nyamira avocado.”
The former premier was flanked by Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga who stated that, as a county, they support the programme and promised that his government would help in planting as many avocado trees as possible to enhance the region’s tree cover.
Rasanga added that his county government is currently supporting the establishment of tree nurseries in all primary and secondary schools across the region with a view to improve the area’s forest cover.

Governor Mwangi Wai ria- Muranga

[caption id="attachment_3236" align="alignright" width="300"] Muranga Governor Mwangi Wa Iria[/caption]

Mwangi Wa Iria Governor Muranga County, has been at the forefront of encouraging people and farmers to plant hass avocado and macadamia. Muranga county government through courtesy of Mwangi Wa Iria has partnered with major hass exporters such as Kakuzi.
Before the governor intervened, hass avocado farmers were being exploited where brokers were buying fruits as low as Ksh 3. However after the governor negotiated the price, a single fruit is now being bought @15 and can go as high as Ksh35.
Before the market was regulated, farmers used to sell a fruit for as low as Sh1. Now they sell one for Sh8. Hass-avocado exporters sell the fruit for as high as KSh 30. Just last year farmers in Murang’a county earned Sh500 million from hass avocado farming according to Governor Mwangi Wa-Iria. Hass avocado investment is bigger than coffee. One properly watered tree of hass avocado can give you 1,000 fruits a year, which comes to Sh8,000.

Governor Kiraitu Murungi- Meru County

[caption id="attachment_3222" align="alignright" width="150"] Meru Governor Kiraitu distributing seedlings[/caption]

On Friday 5th October 2018, H.E governor Kiraitu Murungi distributed hybrid Macadamia and Hass Avocado seedlings to farmers in Meru. Although the governor was categorical that he doesn’t encourage farmers to uproot their miraa, he was quick to note that hass avocado and macadamia farming is the future.
In January 2018, Meru County government through the governor took major steps in empowering farmers in the region to embrace diversity and stop depending on traditional cash crops such as tea and coffee. Towards that end, the County’s Department of Agriculture promised to distribute half a million seedlings of avocado in the next two years.
The Hass avocado species has been identified for the project which if successful, should see farmers earn at least ten thousand shillings from each tree every season. As he was speaking at Gitoro ASK showground, the governor asked Trade and Industrialization CS and former Meru governor to help get a good market for farmers. He distributed over 400,000 seedlings.
With the demand for avocados growing in the west, Kenyan farmers are upping production of the coveted crop and reaping the benefits.

Governor Alfred Mutua- Machakos

[caption id="attachment_3234" align="alignright" width="300"] Machakos Governor, Dr Alfred Mutua[/caption]

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua during his benchmarking tour in Nyeri County in 2018 reached at a decision to partner with Nyeri County in a bid of supporting Avocado farmers and increasing the number of trees in the county.
Mutua reached at the decision in his bench-marking tour in Nyeri County when he visited an avocado farm, Mweiga in Kieni . Avocados are in super high demand in the world and if one grows them well, returns can be as high as 250-300 percent. That is good money. I have learned how to grow and ship Avocados to overseas markets.
Mutua said this can fetch good extra income to Machakos residents. “We have decided to partner with Nyeri County to support our Avocado farmers and expand the number of trees grown in our counties. We can then join hands in marketing the fruits locally and overseas so that our households have added income.” Mutua said.
“Our people are hardworking and it is the role of our governments to support and guide them so as to grow wealth. My vision is to identify at least five crops that each household in Machakos can grow so as to generate sufficient income. Once we do that, it will be Bye Bye Mwolyo (Bye to relief food shame),” Mutua added.
Mutua said he is committed to doing this and other ventures such as construction of factories, promoting industrialization and economic enterprises. He said all these will enable residents get extra income.

Governor Mutahi Kahiga- Nyeri

Governor Mutahi Kahiha said that the Hass variety is particularly popular for export. “One tree of the Hass Avocados variety can bear up to 1,000 fruits if well cultivated and cared for. Abroad, one Hass Avocado can fetch up to 5 dollars. If more farmers could take up this type of farming, with the support of the County Government, then more farmers would be empowered. The County Government of Nyeri is committed to cultivating a suitable and conducive environment for farmers where best market practices are practiced.” Mutahi added.
Governor Mutahi this year only has distributed more than 500,000 hass avocado seedlings.

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Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett

Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett called Kenyan residents to venture into hass avocado farming, saying that the market in France and other European countries was huge.
The CS said the national government would promote farming of avocados by licensing the establishment of seedling nurseries. He explained that there was high demand for avocado produce in France and other European countries and emphasized of the need by the farmers to venture into farming.
Former CS Willy Bett has urged farmers to diversify and seek alternative crops to boost food security in the counties and also to improve their livelihoods.
Mr Bett said maize farmers cannot rely solely on maize and wheat production because of changing economic trends.
He said the country faces maize shortage because many Kenyans depend on it as their staple food adding that farmers should not only concentrate on maize farming.
Speaking at the Kenyenya Green Stadium in Bomachoge Borabu constituency where he launched avocado farming in Kisii County, the CS urged farmers to embrace avocado farming to improve their earnings.
“Farmers need to adjust their farming techniques and venture into other forms of agriculture such as avocado.” “I urge the Kisii people to embrace intensive farming to increase food production for local consumption and export. Kisii is endowed with plenty of rainfall which residents need in planting various crops despite shrinking land sizes,” said Mr Bett.
The CS together with the Kenya Health Inspectorate Service distributed 10, 000 avocado seedling to trained farmers.

Agriculture CS Mwani Kiunjuri

[caption id="attachment_3233" align="alignright" width="150"] Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri Distributing Hass avocado Seedlings[/caption]

Avocado market for Kenya continues to expand as South Africa lifts an 11-year-old ban on Kenya. I urge farmers take advantage of my Ministry's collaboration with the County Governments in distributing avocado seedlings. However, avocado farmers should ensure that they comply to market standards to avoid attracting another ban.

Conclusion

Do you think all these leaders are bluffing? Many people have been questioning us and in their thinking, they think Hass avocado farming is a pyramid like the quail birds. We at Oxfarm Ag Ltd can assure you our esteemed customers and farmers at large that Hass avocado farming is the future. Avocado is a fruit and with the new eating trends, people are eating healthy and doctors have been recommending avocado as a source of natural fruits.
This short rain, don’t waste time, plant as many tree fruits as you can. More specifically plant hass avocado and Macadamia nuts.