Poorly structured market systems still a major challenge for Bahati avocado farmers

Jane Muthoni, a farmer from Bahati Sub-county, took a bold leap from maize to avocado farming - a decision she says has transformed her farming journey.

In the past, Jane had to sell her avocados to brokers at low prices, often earning far less than her hard work deserved. But things have changed. Now a member of a cooperative, Jane no longer worries about finding a market for her avocados.

"I used to sell my fruit to brokers at throwaway prices," she recalls. "Now, through the cooperative, I'm assured of a stable market.

Four years ago, with little knowledge, she ventured into avocado farming, planting 269 seedlings. Although some dried up, she persevered - replanting and eventually growing her orchard to 339 thriving trees.

Her farm now has a mix of Hass, Fuerte and traditional avocado varieties. Of these, she says the Hass variety stands out because of its strong demand in international markets.

"Hass has a better export market, while the others do well locally," she says. "This is my first year of exporting and I hope it will increase my income significantly."

Despite her success, Jane still faces challenges. Pests and diseases - particularly the Persia mite - threaten fruit quality and yields.

She also cites a lack of readily available, up-to-date information on avocado farming, and often relies on her own research to keep up to date.

Samuel Ndegwa, another farmer and member of the cooperative, tells a similar story. He started growing avocados six years ago and describes it as one of the best decisions he's ever made.

"Avocado farming is rewarding despite the hurdles," he says. "I plan to expand my orchard and increase the number of trees."

Like Jane, Samuel faced early setbacks. Finding high-quality, disease-free seedlings that matured evenly was a struggle. Many of his initial seedlings failed, forcing him to replant.

"Few registered nurseries meet the required standards," he explains. "I had to replace many trees that didn't survive."

As a commercial avocado grower, Samuel also lacked access to the essential agronomic services needed to produce export-quality fruit. But joining the cooperative changed everything - especially when it came to marketing.

"The cooperative finds the market for us," he says. "We now sell our avocados at Sh80 per kg, and we no longer have to worry about where to sell our crop."

Both farmers believe that with a structured market system, more smallholders could benefit from the booming avocado industry - especially those still trapped in broker-dependent sales.