Avocado
Persea americana
A fast-growing horticultural export crop (notably Hass), central highlands and Rift Valley are major production zones.
Family
Lauraceae
Temperature
14-40°C (absolute 10-45°C)
Rainfall
500-2000mm (absolute 300-2500mm)
Altitude
2800m
Soil pH
5-5.8 (absolute 4.5-7)
Growing regions
Kenya: Murang'a, Kiambu, Nyeri, Kandara, Kisii, Nakuru, Meru. Also a major export crop in Mexico, Peru, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, South Africa, and Chile.
Soil types
Deep, well-drained loams, pH 6.0-6.5; intolerant of waterlogging
Water requirements
Consistent moisture without waterlogging, roughly 1000-1500mm/year or equivalent drip irrigation; highly sensitive to Phytophthora root rot in poorly drained soils
Growth stages
Nursery/grafting (6-12 months) -> field establishment (Year 1-2) -> vegetative growth and canopy development (Year 2-4) -> first flowering and fruiting (Year 3-5) -> full commercial bearing (Year 7-10 onward)
Planting guide
Plant grafted seedlings at the onset of rains, spacing 7-8m x 7-8m (around 175 trees/ha). Dig 60x60x60cm planting holes enriched with well-rotted manure and topsoil, stake young trees, and mulch to conserve moisture. Avoid waterlogged or poorly drained sites.
Harvest guide
Harvest by hand using picking poles/clippers once fruit reaches physiological maturity (dry matter typically above 24% for Hass) but still firm-green. Avoid pulling fruit to prevent stem-end damage, and handle carefully to avoid bruising for export markets.
Expected yield
5-10 tonnes/ha in early bearing years (Year 5-7), rising to 15-25 tonnes/ha at full maturity (Year 10+) under good management; grafted Hass trees can yield 100-200kg of fruit per tree annually at peak.
Economic importance
One of Kenya's top horticultural export earners. Over 100,000 smallholder farmers grow avocado as a cash crop, with exports (mainly Hass) reaching Europe, the Middle East, and increasingly China, generating tens of billions of Kenyan shillings annually in export revenue.
History
Avocado was introduced to Kenya in the early 20th century by European settlers as a garden and shade tree. Commercial production began in earnest in the 1970s-80s with the Fuerte variety, and expanded rapidly from the 2000s onward as Hass took over and export demand from Europe grew. Murang'a, Kiambu and Nyeri counties emerged as the country's leading production zones.
Origin
South-central Mexico and the Guatemalan highlands, where it has been cultivated for over 7,000 years before spreading globally following Spanish colonization.