Avocado For Money: Bungoma Launches 5 Year Farmers Strategic Plan
Bungoma county government in partnership with Kenya Crops and Dairy Market systems Activity (KCDMS) and other donor aid agencies have launched a 5 year strategic plan that will see an increase in export capacity of Bungoma-grown avocados.
The strategic plan also stipulates ways that will enable Bungoma Avacado Farmers Association (BAFA) to access other international horticultural markets by complying with Good Agricultural Practices, SPS and market requirements, in a sustainable framework.
The Plan will play a critical role in guiding BAFA under in setting up an industry for Avacado Processing at the newly launched Bungoma aggregated industrial park to enable local farmers to benefit directly from their fresh produce.
Gracing the launch on behalf of the CECM for Agriculture Dr. Monica Fedha, Sub county Agricultural officer, David Sivunje pointed out that farmers have specifically been given a variety of Avacado known as Hass which is resistant to pests and diseases and requires low rainfall and cheap to maintain and the capital outlay is low.
The Hass variety is only year round, oval shaped with a thick pebbled skin that turns from green to purple -black when ripe.
One tree of this variety gives 200-300 fruits per year and one acre of land accommodates up to 46 trees.
Norway, Netherlands , DRC, France and Japan are some of the leading international states where the Bungoma Avacado farmers Association supply their avocados and up until now the market has been favorable for the farmers.
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