Avocado farmers in Kisii County are set to benefit from a partnership between Control Union Kenya and Riaima Empowerment Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (RECSA).
The move is aimed at equipping smallholder farmers with skills, certification, and direct market access under the “Control Union Mashinani” programme.
Speaking during a farmer engagement at Borabu Bomachoge, Control Union Kenya Managing Director James Mureithi said the programme seeks to empower avocado farmers through training on sustainable production and compliance with market standards.
“We are here to empower farmers in avocado farming, with much emphasis on sustainable agriculture,” he said.
Mureithi said certification acts as a bridge to export markets, giving farmers access to better prices and reducing dependence on middlemen.
He described avocado as “the green gold of Kenya,” noting that Kisii’s favorable climate conditions makes the crop ideal for large-scale cultivation.
He called for collaboration between county and national governments, along with other stakeholders, to ensure farmers access quality seedlings, technical know-how, and fair international market opportunities.
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RECSA founder Evans Nyakoni said the organization will train local communities and help link them with export markets through partnerships with the Control Union.
Additionally, it will train the community, help them organise into groups, and ensure farms meet the standards needed for certification. It will also act as a focal point for coordination between farmers and certification experts.
The partnership has been hailed by avocado farmers from Borabu Bomachoge, saying the programme is already bearing fruit. They credit recent training by Control Union on good agricultural practices, organic agriculture and soil management strategies.
Through the collaborations, farmers in Kisii stand to gain not only from technical training and certification but also from an organized route to premium markets—positioning avocado farming as a viable venture.
As a certification body, the Control Union is involved in checking the compliance and also checking if the farms, producers and exporters are complying with specific market requirements. In Kenya, the body focuses on the Global Gap for fresh fruits and vegetables.
By Our reporter
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