How avocados are transforming lives in Embu
At ITF, we know that trees have multiple benefits in addressing socio-economic and ecological challenges facing many communities and landscapes in Africa.
Trees play a critical role in providing for household needs such as food, fodder, herbal remedies, firewood and building materials. And in protecting landscapes from soil erosion, droughts, floods, strong wind as well as combating climate change. High value fruit trees such as avocados, mangoes and macadamia are doing all this and helping to improve community livelihoods as sources of revenue for farmers.
Elias Muriithi and David Gichohi from Embu inspecting 5-year-old avocado trees
Since 2020, ITF has supported communities in Embu County in Kenya to grow avocado fruit trees. Embu county stretches from mountains with high rainfall, through to hilly areas with moderate rain and warm temperatures and lowlands with hot, dry conditions. Grafted avocado varieties especially Hass and Fuerte have uniquely thrived in all three zones.
Plentiful harvests
With limited sources of revenue due to dwindling income from tea and coffee sales, avocado farming has become a sustainable source of household income in Embu. ITF has worked with local farmers to grow these high value fruit trees. I recently visited ITF project sites in Embu County to collect annual production data and hear about the positive impact the trees are having for farmers.
A Hass avocado in its 1st year of bearing fruits
Both the Hass and Fuerte varieties start producing fruits as early as three years old and can continue to do so for more than 30 years. The first harvest will produce 50-100 avocados. But by the time the tree has matured, the Hass avocado will yield about 500 avocados and the Fuerte variety about 1,000 fruits per tree. These bountiful crops provide farmers with a reliable source of income with which they can care for their families and enhance their wellbeing.
Julius Rugendo, a project beneficiary proudly showed me his seasonal sales records from the latest harvest where he harvested 25,000 avocados from 50 trees. He told me how his life has greatly improved since he is now able to pay for his children’s school education thanks to the sale of his crop.
A growing demand for quality seedlings
During harvest season, avocados are so plentiful that each household may eat up to 10 fruits per day, while a further 300 are sent to friends and family members. To maximize yield, farmers are also integrating avocado trees in their tea and coffee plantations.
Avocado trees integrated in tea plantation
However, avocado trees are now in such high demand, we need to build the capacity of local community nurseries so they can produce enough high-quality seedlings to meet the demand.
Donate today
You can help expand this project and help more farmers grow life changing avocado trees which will provide food and income for today while protecting our planet for tomorrow.