Farmers in Kirinyaga County are set to benefit from over 60,000 avocado seedlings to be distributed to at least 30 farmer’s groups during this season.
The seedlings were developed under the County Government initiative through the first round of the National Agricultural Rural Inclusive Growth Program (NARIGP), to establish avocado seedlings nurseries.
The Kirinyaga County Governor, Anne Waiguru, presided over the flagging off at Kimunye and Kamiigua, in Kirinyaga East Sub-county. The County Government purchased seedlings from the groups worth Sh. 2.5 million.
“The County Government will be spending a total Sh. 15 million on seedlings which will be bought from groups and distributed to farmers who will in turn start propagation of Hass avocado seedlings,” Waiguru said.
“We want to be the leader in avocado seedlings production where our farmers will be selling quality seedlings to other farmers within and outside our County,” She added.
She said the county is in process of building avocado aggregation centers and an avocado processing plant where avocados for local and export markets will be processed.
“The rising demand for avocado in the local and international market presents an immense investment opportunity for farmers. The County will support the production and access to avocado market,” she said.
Kenya is ranked among the top exporters of the avocado whose demand is extremely high in the European and Middle East Market.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
