Avocados are primarily popular fruits in Kenya and are grown almost everywhere in the country. These fruits are highly demanded since consumers like eating them as a whole or eating them with another meal, using them as smoothies and facials. But how come they are profitable in Kenya? This blog post will explore how avocado farms are profitable and why they thrive in Kenya.
Yes, avocado farms are highly profitable in Kenya. Avocado farming is one of the best agribusiness ventures for Kenyan farmers because avocados are highly demanded in Kenya and outside the country due to these amazing fruits’ health benefits and nutritional values.
For instance, if you plant about 100 to 130 avocado trees, it will give about Kshs 300,000 to Kshs 400,000 per acre in local markets since a kilo is retained at Kshs 176.
Furthermore, you can sell your fruits to local markets, earning Kshs 10 per fruit, and if you have about 130 trees on an acre of land and each plant produces 600 fruits, you can make up to Kshs 800,000.
8 Reasons Why Avocado Farms Are Profitable in Kenya
Avocado farms are profitable for the farmers in Kenya for the following eight reasons:
1. Ready Market
Avocado fruits like Hass avocado have a ready market both locally and internationally for local farmers. Some distributors also buy them directly from the farm and therefore the farmer does not have to transport them to the market. This at long last save the farmer the transportation cost.
2. Grow on a Wide Range of Climate Conditions
Avocados can be grown in a wide range of climates and soils, making them suitable for farming.
3. Avocados Are Delicious
The fruits are delicious and creamy with a great fat content that is nutritious and keeps you wanting more. Many Kenyans eat food in the company of avocados. Some even say they find it hard to eat foods like rice, githeri, and a lot more without avocados.
4. Have Many Health Benefits
Because they have many health benefits, their demand is increasing globally. Kenyan dieticians and meal planners are advising Kenyans to embrace avocados since they have a lot more benefits as compared to other fruits.
5. High Yield
One avocado tree can produce up to 1000 kg of avocado fruit and can be harvested up to 3 times a year. This will give a total of 3000 kg of avocados per year.
6. Low Production Cost
The cost of producing avocado is low as it requires less labour, and maintenance. Additionally, growing avocados is easy since less capital is needed to start avocado farming.
7. High Returns
Avocados have a high return on investment in a year once they start bearing fruits. You can harvest them up to three times in a single year. If a farmer decides to sell a kilo at Ksh. 100, they will have made Ksh. 300,000 in a year.
8. Used as Raw Material
Avocados are profitable since manufacturers are using them to produce oil, making them more in demand and thus more income for the farmer.
Profitability of Avocado Farming in Kenya
The profitability of avocados in Kenya mostly depends on the avocado fruit’s type and size. For example, a Hass avocado tree can give an average of Kshs 3500 per cycle to a farmer who planted 100 trees per acre, whereby you sell each fruit for five shillings, thus earning Kshs 700,000 per year.
Additionally, the quality and size of avocados determine the profitability. This is because each fruit can be sold for Kshs 5 to Kshs 10, and a tree aged four or five years can produce about 600 fruits; you can get between Kshs 3000 and 6000 per tree.
The profit of avocado per acre in Kenya relies on the tree’s age. This is because some trees yield more when they are a bit older. Therefore, a farmer who planted over 100 trees of avocado on an acre of land can get Kshs 400,000 at the age of three years and Kshs 700,000 at four to five years each year.
The yield of avocado per tree depends on the tree type, age, and farm management method. Therefore, one tree can yield between 600 and 800 fruits per season under good management practices.
Price of a Kilo of Avocados
The price of a kilo of avocados varies with the type of avocado. For instance, the average price of a kilo of regular avocados is about Kshs 30 in local markets, but for a Hass avocado, a kilo costs Kshs 176 in Kenya.
