Feico Smit can safely be call an Africa expert . In the 1990s , he was the first to travel around Africa for flower auctions . Feico has now relocate there for the fourth time . In November 2021 , he became COO of Mount Elgon Orchards Kenya , a combined arise and avocado farm .
Kenya ’s avocado time of year has just started . " Picking in now well afoot , and the first containers were loaded last week , " begins Feico . The culture company is place - as its name suggests - near Mount Elgon , an nonextant stratovolcano on the Uganda / Kenya border . It is a interior park in both countries .
" We produce avocados on 120 hectare . Most , about 95 % , of the total variety is Hass . Our growing conditions are unusual by African standards . We grow at an altitude of two km , have beneficial irrigation possibleness , and entree to unspoilt soil . That results in our avocados having a much high than average fat content than other Kenyan aguacate . " Harvesting begin in April , and the company delivers its last alligator pear in September / October .
" We sort strictly too . The production manager is in the orchard all solar day with a juiceless matter meter . And the worker are well trained . customer know our corner contain avocadoes , not stones . Many small - scale agriculturalist in Kenya supply monger who are , therefore , stuck with many dissimilar qualities . That does n’t always benefit Kenyan avocados ' repute . We , however , manipulate everything , from cultivation to selling . That ’s why our clients like cultivate with us , " says Feico .
Most of the farm ’s avocados are currently being betray to the Netherlands and Asia . " Last year , we export 60 - 70 % to the Netherlands . This year ’s market state of affairs is a bit down , but there ’s still demand from all side . That , too , has to do with our caliber selection . " This week , for the first time , Kuehne Nagel lade a full container directly from Mount Elgon Orchards rather of the common road via Nairobi airport ’s cold stores .
This rise / avocado farm cover 650 hectare in total . " Many of our crops have only been planted in late long time , so will amount into full production in the coming age . We still have plenty of expansion plans and have n’t nearly reached our peak . general avocado use of goods and services is increase , so there ’s plenty of voltage , " Smit continues .
There is also synergism between the rose and avocado cultivation . " Our avocadoes peak in the rosaceous off - season . We weigh it a form of risk of infection spreading too . However , both product groups have challenges . Much is being say and written about the crisis in horticulture . But , given how high transport and plant food prices are , that ’s regard the exotic fruit sector too . Airfreight and container prices have more than doubled in the last 18 month . "
Feico is proud of Mount Elgon Orchard ’s establishment . " That , too , is gear up up very professionally . multitude can do vocational breeding here to become auto mechanics , electrician , carpenters , hairdressers , or growers . We also have a hospital that treats as many as 63,000 patients a year . How well this is set up is really the cerise on top . "
Yet , there are challenges aplenty . " It ’s still Africa , " express joy Feico . " A mean solar day never live as anticipated ; something always happen . We ’re far from Nairobi . We , therefore , have to ensure we ’re ego - sufficient in everything , so we can always keep blend in . That ’s not always easy . For representative , Kenya presently has a diesel deficit , which is why we make indisputable we have a strategic provision of this . The same goes for fertiliser , " he concludes .
For more information : Feico SmitMount Elgon OrchardsP.O. Box 124 , KitaleKenyaEmail:[email protected]Website : www.mtelgon.com
© FloralDaily.com/Izak Heijboer
