Kapsabet:Nandi Farmers in Nandi County are transitioning from maize to avocado farming, aiming to adopt climate-smart agriculture to mitigate the impacts of crop failures, high input costs, and erratic weather conditions.
According to Kenya News Agency, farmers from Emgwen, Aldai, Nandi Hills, and Tinderet sub-counties are motivated by the potential for better returns, lower production costs, and reduced labor requirements that avocado farming offers compared to maize. This shift is spurred by a conservation campaign led by environmental activists Joel Malakwen and Allan Ondiek, who are encouraging the planting of 800,000 avocado trees and indigenous species to enhance household incomes, nutrition, and ecological restoration.
The campaign plans to plant two million trees across the four sub-counties, comprising 1.2 million indigenous trees and 800,000 avocado trees. Currently, over 175,000 avocado seedlings are ready for transplanting this season.
During a tree planting event in Kapsabet for Mazingira Day, Malakwen announced the establishment of 61 nurseries—40 for indigenous species and 21 for avocados—to support the initiative. The project promotes the Royal Hass and Fuerte avocado varieties, which have demonstrated promising yields locally. Malakwen emphasized that the initiative aims to boost both financial and nutritional well-being for households.
Ondiek highlighted the dual objectives of addressing environmental degradation and providing sustainable food and income sources. The initiative encourages farmers to diversify their crops while increasing tree cover and fruit access.
Many farmers are switching to avocados due to significant losses from maize farming. Hosea Koskey, an avocado farmer, noted the low initial cost and promising yields as a beacon of hope after sustained losses from maize. Similarly, Eliud Kiplagat shared that heavy investment in maize fertilization did not yield returns, expressing optimism for future avocado harvests.
Victor Yator attributed declining maize production to climate change and counterfeit seeds, advocating for diversification to build resilience. However, farmers must endure a two-to-three-year period before avocado trees mature and generate income.
Dr. James Melly, Nandi County Director of Environment, praised the initiative for supporting tree cover restoration and delivering economic and nutritional benefits. He also noted its potential to alleviate human-wildlife conflicts by providing more fruits for local wildlife like monkeys and birds.
As calls grow for smallholders to adopt diversified, climate-smart practices, this initiative represents a promising step towards reducing vulnerability to crop failures.
