November 27, 2025
Avocado growers in Gatundu North, Kiambu County, Kenya are taking bold steps to address long-standing market distortions that have kept farm-gate returns far below the true value of their produce. For years, growers have sold avocados to local brokers for as little as KSh 5–10 per fruit, equivalent to just US$0.04–0.08, while the same fruit fetches between KSh 300 and KSh 500 (US$2.36–3.93) in export markets. This sharp disparity has squeezed farmers’ margins despite their bearing the full cost of planting, maintaining, and harvesting orchards.
In response, growers are organizing under the Ashindi Kiambu Community Association, a community-driven platform designed to strengthen coordination, improve bargaining power, and foster greater transparency in the avocado value chain. The association is laying the groundwork to form a corporate society that will consolidate avocado sales, minimize the influence of intermediaries, and help stabilize producer prices.
As part of a long-term strategy, the group has launched a large-scale seedling-planting campaign aimed at increasing production volumes and preparing the region for potential agro-processing investment. By building a robust supply base, the farmers hope to position Gatundu North as a competitive hub for value addition.
Future plans include establishing processing capacity for higher-value avocado products such as cold-pressed oil, natural cosmetics, and food derivatives for both local and international markets. According to initiative leader David Ngugi, collective marketing and processing are viewed as essential steps toward reducing post-harvest losses and improving income reliability for smallholder growers.
Farmers and local residents are now calling on national and county governments to support the establishment of processing infrastructure in Gatundu North. They believe that local value addition would shield growers from volatile export markets, generate employment, and strengthen Kenya’s position as a leading player in the global avocado industry.