Avocados are emerging as a key contributor to Kenya’s economic growth, improving the lives of thousands of farmers, especially in rural villages. With WWF-Kenya support, over 400 farmers in Njoro Basin, Nakuru County, are set to cash in on training on an advanced avocado grafting technique.
As avocados continue to gain popularity, locally and internationally, initiatives like these are crucial for ensuring that Kenyan farmers can capitalize on this growing market.
Grafting high-yielding Hass or Fuerte scions onto local rootstocks, farmers can optimize their avocado crops, says Elizabeth Gathogo, WWF-Kenya’s Agribusiness Project Officer, who is leading the training.
“They will learn how to graft with local avocado varieties as rootstocks because they are well-adapted to local conditions and use the Hass variety as the scion for its high yield and shorter production cycle,” said Ms Gathogo.
Whereas the grafted varieties begin to bear fruit after two-and-half to three years, the local varieties take on average 10–15 years and can only be sold locally.
This strategic grafting approach not only preserves the resilience of local varieties but also leverages the desirable traits of the Hass variety to boost overall productivity and market competitiveness in the region.
The initiative is part of the Integrated River Njoro Catchment Management for Enhanced Ecosystem Services and Livelihoods (NEESEL) project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and WWF-Switzerland.
Initially, the project provided over 5,000 Hass avocado seedlings to local farmers.
It has since expanded to support the establishment of local nurseries and the grafting of seedlings for sale, offering farmers a revenue stream as they wait for their trees to mature.
By equipping farmers with the skills and resources needed for successful grafting, the project aims to create a sustainable and profitable avocado industry in the basin.
By Obi Owino
