This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
On a potholed road in Elburgon town, Molo sub county, lies Karuma Mau Farm Technology at Kapsita village, where Seeds of Gold met Samwel Karuma, a successful avocado farmer.
With over 100 avocado trees on a one-and-half-acre land, Karuma's farm is a testament to the potential of intercropping.
"I started with 120 seedlings in 2015, purchased at Sh150 each from a certified dealer," Karuma explained.
He invested Sh3,000 in land preparation and animal manure, planting both Hass and Fuerte avocado varieties, which thrive in areas with sufficient rain like Molo.
"I chose Hass for its longer shelf-life and higher yields," Karuma said.
After training in sustainable agriculture at Baraka Agricultural College, Karuma switched from other crops due to high input costs.
"I incurred a loss of over Sh30,000 once due to inadequate rains, which made me switch to avocados," he recalled.
By spacing his trees 8 by 8 meters, Karuma allows for intercropping with potatoes, increasing his earnings.
He also runs a seedlings business, growing various crops including tree tomato, passion fruit, and lemon.
One mature avocado tree yields up to 100 fruits, with Karuma harvesting at least 70 fruits per tree, selling them between Sh7 and Sh10 each.
However, the avocado lace bug remains a challenge, with Karuma using fly catchers to trap the insect.
