A new scheme seeking to enhance creation of wealth for thousands of crop farmers is underway in Nyanza region following an agreement between County Government of Siaya and fruit exporter Kakuzi Plc (NSE: KUKZ).

Under the partnership, Kakuzi has agreed to foster technical collaboration to boost the production of quality avocado and macadamia in the lakeside country, whose economy currently depends on the farming of rice, cotton, and sugarcane besides a thriving fishing industry.

Siaya will be leveraging on the expertise of Kakuzi, a Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed company which is the largest producer of avocados in Kenya, the largest single-estate macadamia producer, and the first company to bring the superfood blueberry to the country.

With exports to key global markets including Europe and China, Kakuzi said the agreement will see the Murang'a-based company enhance the provision of agricultural extension support services to thousands Siaya County smallholder farmers keen on earning better from the booming avocado and macadamia trade. 

Speaking when he toured Kakuzi Plc’s orchards in Makuyu, Murang’a County, Siaya Governor James Orengo said his administration will facilitate smallholder farmer delegations to visit the superfoods producer for first-hand lessons on commercial production of avocado and macadamia. 

As part of a strategic economic transformation programme targeting agribusiness ventures, Siaya county, he said, will also explore avenues to acquire quality hass avocado and macadamia tree seedlings to jumpstart the farming of the two superfoods. 

“This visit has been a real eye-opener on the value of both avocado and macadamia farming as poverty eradication options. The delegation from Siaya County is impressed at the transformative social-economic, professional crop husbandry practices and environmental conservation efforts employed by Kakuzi and which we will seek to emulate back home,” Governor Orengo said.

The governor noted that his administration will start upskilling its agricultural extension officers with a view to enhance their capacity in championing avocado and macadamia value chain in Kenya's lakeside region. 

The county’s agricultural extension officers will act as frontline workers supporting Siaya smallholder farmers' ecosystem in their avocado and macadamia farming ventures. 

Kakuzi Managing Director Chris Flowers said the agribusiness firm is dedicated to assisting farmers across the Nation increase their access to technical skills. 

As part of the collaboration with the County Government of Siaya, Kakuzi Plc, Mr Flowers said, will also participate in the forthcoming Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference (SITICO), slated for October. 

“We support farmers from many counties and we are honoured to collaborate with Governor Orengo and the County Government of Siaya in these endeavours.  Kenya ranks as the fifth-largest producer of high-quality avocados for export, and Kakuzi welcomes partnerships with the County Government of Siaya, as it provides an opportunity to boost the production of quality Hass avocados for the domestic and even export markets,” Mr Flowers said. 

He added, “In this collaborative partnership, we shall be seeking a win-win solution to advance the production and consumption of quality avocado fruits and macadamia nuts.”

Currently, Kakuzi offers a suite of crop husbandry services to thousands of farmers across Kenya continuously upskilling them with a view to earn better through quality production and, therefore, better prices for their fruits in the international markets.

Alongside market access, the Kakuzi smallholder’s and out-growers’ programme, which provides small-scale avocado growers in Murang’a access to best practices and the international market for their fruits, has continued to draw farmers from Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Meru, Laikipia and Nandi counties. 

Through the firm’s extension services department, Kakuzi also provides free fruit maturity testing services to smallholder farmers to ensure that only avocado fruits with a minimum dry matter standard of 24 percent are harvested.

At the forthcoming Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference, Kakuzi will also showcase consumer products by the firm, including ready-to-eat Macadamia nuts and cold-pressed Macadamia Cooking oil. 

The Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference is structured to position Siaya as a premier investment destination as the region enhances efforts to drive socio-economic transformation and sustainable development. 

During the showcase, investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and development partners will explore diverse investment opportunities within Siaya County.

[email protected]