AVOCADO PRODUCTION

Introduction
Kenya is the world’s third largest producer of avocados. It’s also Kenya’s leading
fruit export, accounting for nearly one-fifth of its total horticultural exports.
But Kenya only exports 10% of its total avocado production. By comparison, Chile exports
55% and South Africa exports 60%.
Avocado is grown in several parts of Kenya and about 70% of avocado production is
by small-scale growers. They grow it for subsistence, local markets, and export purposes.
The avocado export market in Kenya is dominated by five major exporters: Kakuzi, Vegpro,
Sunripe, Kenya Horticultural Exporters, and East African Growers. These companies source
their avocados primarily from smallholder farmers, although some firms also source from
larger growers or own plantations.
Kenya is the world’s third largest producer of avocados. It’s also Kenya’s leading
fruit export, accounting for nearly one-fifth of its total horticultural exports.
But Kenya only exports 10% of its total avocado production. By comparison, Chile exports
55% and South Africa exports 60%.
Avocado is grown in several parts of Kenya and about 70% of avocado production is
by small-scale growers. They grow it for subsistence, local markets, and export purposes.
The avocado export market in Kenya is dominated by five major exporters: Kakuzi, Vegpro,
Sunripe, Kenya Horticultural Exporters, and East African Growers. These companies source
their avocados primarily from smallholder farmers, although some firms also source from
larger growers or own plantations.

Climate and Avocado Variety

These two are interlinked.  Variety is market driven (for e.g., Fuerte avocado variety is
preferred for the domestic market and Hass avocado variety for export).  West Indian
cultivars originated in the humid tropical lowlands of Central America and prefer higher
temperatures and humidity and do not tolerate frost.  The Mexican races are more frost
tolerant and grow at lower temperatures and humidity.  Guatemalan cultivars originated from
tropical highlands and are sensitive to high temperatures (38C) and low humidity (<65%)
which cause flower and fruit drop. Fuerte cultivar is a natural hybrid between cultivars and
has a wider climatic tolerance.
In general, cool temperatures (mean daily 20-24C) are best because hot dry weather causes
fruit drop.  Areas with little to no frost.  Humidity should exceed 50% at midday especially
during flowering, pollination and fruit set.  Avocados hate wind.  They have brittle branches
that snap off easily.  Wind damages the fruit.
Common Avocado Varieties
a) Hass avocados 
The skin of hass avocado becomes dark when ripe. The ripeness can be determined by
a gentle squeeze. They are served when the inside is white-green. This variety has an
intense flavour and creamy flesh making it suitable for making guacamole. Hass
avocado takes lesser time to mature and produce more yields.
Why hass avocado is preferred? The demand of hass avocados in the local and
international markets has been increasing over the years. There are various reasons
why hass avocado is preferred. These include: greater yield, long shelf life, health
benefits.
b) Fuerte avocados
This variety has a characteristic elongated form with glossy and thin skin. They have
a bright green, loose, textured skin that is easy to peel. They do not soften and hence
hard to determine when they are ripe. They have a low-fat content and calorie count
compared to hass avocados. They are mainly used to make salads since they can be
easily sliced and diced.
c) Kienyeji Avocados
Compared to hass avocado, local avocados are larger in size and have a low-fat
content. For instance, 3 slices of kienyeji avocado contain about 3 grams of fat while
has avocado contains 4.6 grams. They take a couple of years to mature and some can
even take a decade.

Common Challenges facing avocado production

The greatest challenge that might face Kenyan avocados is the ability to adhere to
international standards.  To prevent loses, farmers should ensure that they plant high quality
and certified seedlings. They should employ professional farming standards to prevent their
avocado trees from being affected by pests such as thrips, and moth insects. They are also
susceptible to fungal diseases such as anthracnose, root rot, Cercospora, and scab. Scab
Anthracnose and Cercospora can be controlled using copper-based fungicides. Root rot can
be prevented by getting high quality, grafted, and treated seedlings.

Orchard Preparation
 i. Land preparation
A healthy avocado tree has a root system that can penetrate the soil to 1 m, with most
of the feeder roots in the top 20 cm of soil in the drip zone.  The roots are very fragile. Root
rot (Phytophthora) can develop very fast when roots are damaged or waterlogged. It is
essential to determine, in advance, the suitability of soil for avocado production and make the
soil amendments for the avocado tree.
How to prepare soil for planting avocado tree: Soil profile pits should be dug
throughout the farm, at least 1.5m deep and a minimum of one pit per ha (more in hilly or
non-homogenous areas). One should look at soil colour, soil texture, hard pans, sitting water,
structure, patches, concretions, gravel and stones.  Soil samples need to be analysed for
chemical and textural properties. Samples should include both the topsoil (0-20cm) and
subsoil (20cm- 1m). Drainage and soil depth can be increased by mounding the soils up.
Red / brown soils are preferable, yellow/gray/light brown soils are often prone to temporary
or permanent waterlogging. Planting avocado tree in clay soil or in very dark or black soils
which tends to have too much clay or a large percentage of organic matter that may result in
acidic conditions and aluminium toxicity.
Clay content should be tested in the lab (soil texture analysis).  Avocados do best in
soils with 20-40% clay.  In soils with a low clay content (<20%), the water holding capacity
is generally much lower, requiring more frequent irrigation, and the roots may suffer from
temporary drought. Very heavy clay soils have higher water retention and lower infiltration
rates. These soils may become over saturated during heavy rainfall or over irrigation, which
promotes root rot.
The roots grow near the surface and are very fragile. Soil structure plays a big role in
production and root health. Strongly developed block structures, soils that break into hard
clods and soils that have large cracks when dry are unsuitable. Soils should only show small,
fine cracks when the soil dries up.
1) Avocados soil pH: varies from pH 5-7, with an optimum pH of 6.2 to 6.5. A
complete soil analysis, done in good time well in advance of planting, is essential. 
Lime is added to acidic soil to increase the soil pH to 6.5. 
2) Avocado soil nutrients: Dolomitic lime is part substituted for calcitic lime if
magnesium is deficient.  If phosphorous is deficient it should be added along with the
lime and mixed thoroughly into the soil prior to planting.  In case the soil is too
alkaline, the pH may be reduced by adding sulphur and keeping the soil moist for 6-
12 months. Calcium is a critical nutrient in avocado production.  Soil levels need to be
 higher enough to suppress root rot.  Plant levels are important for the nutrient content
and storability of the fruit.
3) Avocado soil preparation: Soils should be deep ripped in a cross pattern to crack any
hard pans.  Soil amendments (lime / calcium / phosphorous / organic matter) should
be well mixed into the soil. The soil should be loosened as deep as possible. In
shallow soils – ridges of 3m wide and 0.5m high are recommended to increase soil
depth and drainage. Inter-row spacing should be planned to allow equipment access.
Tree density depends on the climate and the variety.

ii. Planting Avocados

Plants should be certified clean, well hardened, grafted plants.  Plant the trees as soon as
possible to prevent them from becoming root bound or developing nutrient deficiencies. 
Store plants in the shade, because containers can become hot and the roots can easily burn.
iii. Transplanting avocado tree.
 If soil preparation is done properly a small planting hole should be dug, plants placed in the
hole and the soil pressed gently in around the roots.  Plant trees to the same depth as they are
in the planting bag with a slight mound around the base to prevent water puddling on the
stem. Young trees are very susceptible to salt damage and a well-prepared orchard should not
require fertilizer in the planting hole. Support the trees with sturdy props and whitewash the
stems to prevent sunburn. carry out planting during the rainy season or with irrigation water.
This is the most sensitive part of any hass avocado farming enterprise. Planting determines
about 30% success your enterprise. Proper planting will avoid first drying of your seedlings,
second root rot diseases and third fast maturity of the plants where a farmer start harvesting
within the first 2-3 years.
iv. Timely planting
Timely planting as we call it means that you need to have everything prepared for the long
rains before it starts. Planning and preparing early will help you avoid costly mistakes.
If you are planning to invest in hass avocado we got you covered by assisting you plan.
Taking into consideration this is a long-term investment you are required to put several issues
in your list.
 First, conduct a soil analysis to know how healthy your soil is. Soil is one of the
factors a farmer can control and get better yields.  The analysis will determine the soil
PH, nutrients available (both micro and macro), soil organic matter as well as cation
 exchange capacity. Soil analysis is done during dry season so that the control measure
is done early enough
 The second benefit of preparing your farm early is ploughing and digging of holes for
planting which should be done early to allow more time for other consecutive work to
be timely done.
During land and holes preparation we also assist in mixing of the top soil with manure in a
proper proportion to avoid damage of roots after planting.
v. Seedling selection
Nowadays emergence of small nurseries is everywhere and most of these operators don’t
meet requirements for operating a nursery. Most of them have hass seedlings that are not
certified by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service – KEPHIS and registered by
Horticultural Crop Directorate – HCD. A genuine nursery should operate with both
certificates. Buying the seedlings from these nurseries which at times might be cheaper can
save you a few coins for now but will result in huge losses and regret in say 3-5 years from
now. Consideration should be emphasized from the rootstock selection, scion from true to
type hass avocado variety and propagation method have to be adhered to standard set.
vi. Ferilization
Fertilizer treatments in avocado farms are determined by soil and leaf analysis results. In less
fertile soils, farmers may need to supplement their plants with nutrients that are not in the
soil. Adding fertilizers immediately after planting is not recommended since it can burn the
roots of the young tree. Some of the nutrients that are required by avocado plants include
Nitrogen, Calcium, Boron, and Zinc. The soil pH also plays an important role and should also
be taken into consideration.
Nitrogen speeds up vegetative growth and encourages canopy health. Fertilizers containing
boron and calcium should be added to enhance flowering, fruit set, and to improve the fruit
quality. The soil pH can be regulated by using lime.
vii. Irrigation
Avocado plants require adequate water supply throughout the year. Too much water and little
water can have adverse effects on the plants. Avocado Irrigation Schedule. Proper irrigation
is critical to get a good plant stand. Young avocado trees have a very small root system and
are used to frequent irrigation. Avocados are very sensitive to moisture stress.  Apply
frequent light irrigations, and regularly check the subsoil moisture status and apply
intermittent larger irrigations to re-fill the subsoil. Note over irrigation is just as harmful as
under irrigation.
A thick organic mulch is recommended in young plants to reduce evaporation off the soil and
prevent very high and low root temperatures and salinity build-up. As the trees grow and
mature, they will make their own thick layer of mulch. Very often the feeder roots will
establish in this mulch. The mulch also reduces weed competition.
When the plants don’t get enough water;
1. Plants experience stress which results in early flowering and poor fruit set.
2. Increased flower and fruit abortion
3. Poor quality fruits and reduced fruit size
Too much water results to;
1. Nutrient imbalances
2. Promotes root rot
3. Reduced tree vigour.
viii. Pollination
Hass avocado abort heavenly for several reasons; nutrients available for the plants, pests and
diseases, weather patterns and also pollination plays a big role.
During planting we ensure we follow a guideline where we inter-crop with some Fuertes to
boost on cross pollination. This ensures more fruits in your trees, better fruit development and
also larger sizes of fruits.
ix. Pest and disease control
Most avocado farmers are not concerned about pests and diseases which also play a big role
to the productivity of the trees. Farmers are used to grow the traditional (Kienyeji) avocados
without much care. 

Common Pests and Diseases

A. Diseases
Category: Viral
a. Algal leaf spot Cephaleuros virescens

Symptoms
Raised, orange-red spots on both upper and lower surfaces of leaves; spots may coalesce to
form irregularly shaped patches; spots may also be present on twigs and branches; when the
surface of the spot is scraped away, a gray to dark necrotic crust is visible
Cause
Alga
Comments
Disease affects many fruit trees in the tropics; infection is unsightly but often harmless
Management
Ensure that trees are properly pruned and fertilized to promote vigour; remove all weeds from
around tree bases; employ a wider tree spacing to increase air circulation around the trees;
badly infested trees can be treated with copper containing fungicides
Sunblotch Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd)
Symptoms
Red, yellow, pink or white streaks running the length of young stems; white, yellow or red
blotches on fruit
Cause
Viroid
Comments
Can be transmitted by grafting
Management
Frequently sanitize all pruning equipment with disinfectant; plant only certified nursery stock
Category: Fungal
b. Anthracnose  Glomerella cingulate

Symptoms
Chlorotic and necrotic spots; dead leaf tip; defoliation; brown or purple lesions on new shoots
Cause
Fungus
Comments
Spores spread by rain splash; high moisture and warm temperatures encourage spread
Management
Prune dead twigs and branches from tree before fungi produce spores; knock dead leaves out
of canopy; keep harvested fruit dry and cool
c. Black streak Avocado black streak
Symptoms
Elongated black streaks on bark; cankers parallel to growth of limbs; black blotches with
distinct margins on green wood; cankers on bark cause cracks which ooze sap; removal of
bark over cankers reveals dark discoloration underneath
Cause
Unknown
Comments
Disease emergence favours adverse growing conditions for avocado; more common in
Guatemalan cultivars
Management
Avoid stressing trees by following good fertilization and irrigation practices

 Symptoms
Oval or irregular brown or purple spots on fruit with rough texture.
Cause
Fungus
Comments
High humidity encourages scab growth and spread.
Management
Plant tolerant varieties; spray with copper containing fungicides.
d. Stem-end rot 
Many different fungal species. Depends on growing region. Mainly Botryosphaeria
dothidea in the US.
Symptoms
Shrivelled tissue at stem end; dark brown or black lesions at stem end and eventually over
entire fruit; fruit covered in mycelium
Cause
Fungi
Comments
Environmental conditions may determine which fungal species is most common; spores can
spread by wind or rain.
Management
Prune dead limbs and twigs; prune and harvest in dry conditions; provide trees with sufficient
irrigation; apply a thick layer of mulch
Category: Bacterial
e. Bacterial soft rot  Erwinia herbicola
Erwinia carotovora
Symptoms
Gray to black, mushy, foul smelling rot on fruit; fruit has darkened metallic sheen
Cause
Bacteria
Comments
Bacteria may be present on leaves but do not cause damage unless plant is stressed or bacteria
enter the plant through a wound
Management
No treatment for disease; use certified seed; disinfected tools and cuttings; employ crop
rotation; remove plant debris from soil
Category: Oomycete
f. Phytophthora root rot  Phytophthora cinnamomic
Symptoms
Black lesions on roots; black, brittle roots; small, yellow leaves; premature leaf drop; decline
in fruit yield
Cause
Oomycete
Comments
Wet soils encourage Phytophthora infection; plant in a well draining soil.
Management
Minimize water splash between trees by not working in a wet orchard; prune out dead limbs
and twigs; remove fruit from the ground; dispose of dead wood and fruit away from trees
B. Pests
i. Category: Insects Avocado thrips Scirtothrips perseae
Symptoms
Obvious feeding scars on fruit; scars begin as scabs or leathery patches and spread across
fruit; adult insect is orange-yellow in colour with distinct brown bands and reaches 0.7 mm
(0.03 in) in length
Cause
Insect
Comments
Insect thrives in cooler temperatures; insect may undergo 6 or more generations per year
Management
Addition of coarse organic mulch about 6 inches thick below trees may help to reduce
survival of thrips pupating in soil; if insecticides are to be applied, a selective insecticide
should be selected to reduce damage to populations of natural enemies; Sprays of Entrust are
organically acceptable.

Symptoms
Upper surface of leaves consumed, leaving thin brown membrane or leaves skeletonized;
defoliation of tree; terminal leaves joined together by silk webbing; scarred fruit; young
larvae are yellow-green and mature to dark green and a short, dark horizontal line on the side
of their thorax; adult is a orange or tan moth with dark markings and bell-shaped wings.
Cause
Insect
Comments
Females can lay 150-200 eggs during her lifetime; insect generally undergoes 3 generations
per year.
Management
Healthy avocado trees can tolerate feeding damage well but insect may become problematic
if defoliation causes sunburn on fruit; applications of selective insecticides such as Bacillus
thurengiensis help to conserve populations of natural enemies; pruning trees so that terminal
foliage does not touch helps to prevent leafroller movement between trees.
ii. Category: Mites Persea mites Oligonychus perseae

 
Symptoms
Tree dropping leaves and becoming defoliated causing sunburn damage to exposed bark and
fruit; mites cause the development of circular chlorotic to brown spots on the undersides of
the leaves and fruit surface; dense colonies of mites produce silk webbing which may appear
as a silvery spot; large mite populations can cause the entire tree canopy to appear lighter in
colour.
Cause
Arachnid
Comments
Persea mites are most damaging on Hass and Gwen varieties.
Management
Ensure the tree is adequately fertilized, pruned properly and irrigated to avoid unnecessary
stress to the tree which can make them more susceptible to mite attack; persistent infestations
may require treatment with an appropriate chemical; organic controls include several types of
horticultural oil.