Kisii: Hass Avocado farmers in Kisii County are expressing deep concerns as an unidentified disease devastates their primary source of income. The farmers are urgently requesting intervention from the Ministry of Agriculture to prevent significant financial loss after planting over 20,000 seedlings across two sub-counties in recent months.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Esther Okenyuri Nyaituga Foundation donated the seedlings to the Bomachoge Borabu and Bomachoge Chache constituencies, distributing them through local coordinators and area chiefs. However, a recent inspection of the farms revealed a worrying pattern: leaves on the avocado trees are developing black spots and lines at the base, drying up, and eventually falling off, leading to the death of the stem.
Jeremiah Mbaka, a farmer from Iwera Sub-location, Bokimonge Ward, in Machoge Borabu, lamented the situation. Mbaka, who has successfully farmed the fruit on his three-acre farm since 2016, noted a sharp decline in profits since the disease surfaced in March. He pointed out that available chemicals have proven ineffective, causing his revenue to drop from Sh120 per kg last year to Sh70 per kg this year.
Kennedy Ongaga from Ibencho Division in Gucha Subcounty shared similar frustrations, revealing that only 20 out of his 100 trees have survived. Ongaga has recently planted 50 more trees with seedlings from the Nyaituga Foundation, raising his total tree count to 125. He criticized the authorities for their slow response and highlighted additional challenges like market access and exploitation by middlemen.
Ezra Onyango of Ibencho Ward emphasized the dire need for more seedlings, having started with 65 trees four years ago and now harvesting from only 10. He expressed a desire to purchase 30 more seedlings to expand his garden and support his children's education.
Eric Onsare, the area chief of Machoge Masaba location in Kenyenya Subcounty, acknowledged the enthusiasm among farmers but noted financial constraints hinder their ability to buy seedlings. Meanwhile, Fred Karanja, the Kenyenya Subcounty Crops Officer, identified the Persian mite as the culprit behind the crop destruction, recommending improved farming practices and the use of organic manure.
Senator Esther Okenyuri warned of the potential loss of livelihoods for farmers if the Ministry of Agriculture fails to act swiftly. She advocated for field officers to visit farms directly and supported a Senate bill aimed at establishing a framework for effective service delivery to farmers.
County Governor Simba Arati highlighted the significant potential of Hass avocado production in Kisii, which currently accounts for 20% of the county's avocado output. Arati expressed optimism about increasing production to meet global demand and improving current average yields from 16.5 to over 60 metric tonnes per hectare with better practices.