Increased focus on healthy lifestyles has increased demand for healthy foods like avocados.
Considered a fruit with a huge source of healthy fat, the avocado market and demand have been on the rise both locally and internationally.
In Kenya, commercial hass avocado farming started in 2013 with devolved governments. Most county governments led by the county government of Murang’a gave farmers seedlings with the aim of empowering theM economically.
The majority of farmers took the initiative and uprooted their coffee and tea to plant hass avocados.
By then, global demand for hass avocado was high surpassing global supply. The prices for the early birds already harvesting were high and tempting.
This attracted a lot of farmers which increased supply and caused a fall in prices.
Since then, more farmers have been planting avocados but cannot achieve full production potential.
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Misinformation and insufficient extension services on hass avocado management for maximum yield have caused farmers huge losses.
In this article we outline; how farmers can plant and manage hass avocados for good marketable fruits.
To understand this concept well we must ask ourselves, why farm Hass avocados? What are the benefits of Hass avocado farming in Kenya?
Besides earning the national and county governments billions of shillings in revenue, hass avocado has improved farmers’ livelihoods.
Hundreds of youths are now employed in propagating avocado seedlings for sale while others have been absorbed in the processing industries.
The dark side of the huge market demand is increased theft cases reported in most counties. Farmers blame brokers as what is stolen is sold to them.
Where can you grow hass avocados in Kenya?
Hass avocados do well in regions with an average rainfall of at least 1000mm and temperature of 24-29 degree Celsius,
However, with water for irrigation, Hass avocados can grow even fast in hot areas compared to cold areas.
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Hass avocado grows well in fertile well-drained loam soils or sandy loam soils. The farm should have a good gradient with no flooding to avoid root rot.
Currently, large-scale hass avocado farming is done in Muranga, Nyeri, Kiambu, Kisii, Nakuru, Laikipia, Nyandurua, Kisii and Bungoma.
Which avocado varieties are best in Kenya
Fuertes and Hass avocados are the best variety to grow in Kenya. Fuerte avocado has wide local market acceptability than Hass avocado which relies on the export market.
Characterised by smooth green skin, Fuerte avocado does not change colour on maturity and ripening Like hass avocado.
As it matures, hass avocado changes the colour of its green thin leathery skin to brown then black.
The ideal Hass avocado spacing
A spacing of 9 by 9 meters between one seedling to another is recommended. This requires 60-70 plants per acre.
How to grow the best hass avocado
Dig a planting hole of 2 by 2 feet and a depth of feet and separate top soil with subsoil.
Mix the topsoil with a debe of manure and DAP fertilizer in the hole.
Make a hole at the centre of the pit and plant the seedlings together with the soil.
Cover it with soil to the point where the rapping paper had reached and irrigate.
Hass avocado maturity
Under good management, the Hass avocado tree can yield between 220-350 kgs of fruits per year. That is 3.5-6 tones per acre per annum.
Grafted trees start bearing after 3-4 years but an economical crop is obtainable from the sixth year.
How much does the Hass avocado tree yield in Kenya
A 3-5-year-old tree yield 300-400kgs per hectare while a tree older than 5 years yields 800-1000kg fruits (80000-100000 fruits per hectare) (KARLO)
Avocado pests and diseases management
Anthracnose
Symptoms of anthracnose include spots that form on leaves, beginning as yellow then brown discolouration that coalesce into large dead areas.
Infected flower heads can turn dark and die without producing fruit, or young fruit may form and then drop.
Management of anthracnose in Hass avocado
The best way to control anthracnose is through good agricultural practices, proper preharvest and post-harvest fruit handling.
This is through pruning dead limbs and twigs where fungi sporulate and reducing humidity within canopies by pruning limbs 2fts to allow air circulation.
Always ensure you prune and harvest during dry conditions and minimize fruit contamination and injury.
To prevent anthracnose drench with copper or other related fungicides at the edge of the canopy to prevent infection.
Once infected controlling becomes very hard and expensive.
Armillaria Root Rot (oak tree fungus)
It’s a soil-borne disease that causes the root and trunk of the avocado to rot. Wilted downward hanging foliage or foliage yellowing, leaf drop and dieback of upper limbs are the common symptoms.
Providing good sanitation and drainage by avoiding excess irrigation can help manage armillaria root rot.
Common avocado pests include thrips, whiteflies, cutworms and scales that can be controlled by the use of insecticides.
To further help the farmers they can share pictures of their affected trees HERE for further assistance.
Best fertilizer application for Hass avocados
The use of Farmyard manure is recommended for planting and should be repeated as often as possible for a faster growth rate.
DAP fertilizer is used in planting and as a top dressing after one month.
An application of zinc and boron foliar should be done before the onset of flowering to prevent fruit and flower abortion.
CAN fertilizer topdressing should be done to enhance fruit formation and expansion.
For detailed disease diagnosis and Hass avocado management reach out to our agronomists at +254 736 906 472.
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