• Avocado farming in Nakuru is expanding as the county invests Sh110 million to support more than 22,000 farmers and increase production.

Avocado Farming in Nakuru Grows as County Invests Sh110 Million to Support Farmers

Nakuru Farmers Shift to Avocado Farming as County Invests Sh110 Million to Boost Production

More than 22,000 farmers in Nakuru County have shifted to avocado farming as the county government promotes high-value crops as an alternative source of income and employment.

The county has invested more than Sh110 million in expanding avocado production, including the distribution of avocado seedlings to farmers. The programme has helped increase the area under avocado from less than 6,000 acres to more than 11,000 acres.

Governor Susan Kihika said the county is targeting avocado as a key income-generating enterprise that can create opportunities for farmers while supporting employment across the agricultural value chain.

“We target to strengthen hass avocado farming as a key income-generating enterprise, creating opportunities for thousands of farmers across the county. This will also help to create jobs in the agriculture sector,” she said.

The initiative has benefited 22,576 growers, enabling them to increase production, diversify their income sources and participate more actively in the avocado value chain.

Kihika said her administration would continue supporting farmers with access to quality planting materials and improved agricultural practices while strengthening productivity and developing a sustainable and commercially viable avocado sector.

“The growing number of farmers embracing avocado farming demonstrates the potential of the crop to contribute to household incomes, employment and the wider agricultural economy of Nakuru County,” she said.

She has also encouraged young people to venture into high-value crop farming as a way of creating employment and improving their economic opportunities.

Farmers Shift From Traditional Crops to High-Value Enterprises

The growth of avocado farming in Nakuru is part of a wider shift across the Rift Valley, where county governments are encouraging farmers to diversify away from traditional crops such as maize and adopt enterprises with stronger income potential.

In neighbouring Uasin Gishu County, the government is targeting more than 10,000 acres under coffee as farmers diversify their production. About 3,000 acres have already been established, with the county distributing seedlings and increasing farmer sensitisation.

Governor Jonathan Bii said coffee is among the high-value crops the county wants farmers to adopt instead of relying heavily on maize.

“Coffee is among the high value crops which we want our farmers to grow instead of relying on maize farming which has diminishing returns,” Bii said.

The county is also working to strengthen the coffee value chain through farmer training, extension support, cooperative development, processing and value addition.

Bii has committed to facilitating benchmarking visits for farmers to established coffee farms across Kenya. The visits are intended to give growers practical exposure to coffee production, processing, marketing and farm management.

The 3,000 acres already under coffee also demonstrate the potential economic value of crop diversification. Based on an average yield of 150kg of coffee cherry per point of land and a selling price of Sh125 per kilogram, one point would generate about Sh18,750, translating to approximately Sh1.875 million per acre.

At that level, the 3,000 acres represent a potential gross coffee cherry value of about Sh5.6 billion per harvest.

For Nakuru farmers, the expansion of avocado farming presents a similar shift towards higher-value agricultural enterprises. The long-term returns will depend on access to quality planting materials, suitable varieties, good orchard management, reliable markets and proper post-harvest handling.

Farmers looking for certified grafted Hass avocado seedlings can reach Farmers Trend Limited Nurseries on 0790 509 684.

https://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Avocado-Farming-in-Nakuru-Grows-as-County-Invests-Sh110-Million-to-Support-Farmers.webphttps://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Avocado-Farming-in-Nakuru-Grows-as-County-Invests-Sh110-Million-to-Support-Farmers-150x150.webpFarmersTrend# TrendingAvocado FarmingAvocado farming in Nakuru is expanding as the county invests Sh110 million to support more than 22,000 farmers and increase production.Nakuru Farmers Shift to Avocado Farming as County Invests Sh110 Million to Boost Production More than 22,000 farmers in Nakuru County have shifted to avocado farming as the county...New Generation Culture in Agriculture