Wilson Mwangi categorizes avocados at his modest facility in Kiria-ini, Mathioya, within Murang’a County.
Wilson Mwangi, aged 30, is among the numerous young individuals making their livelihood from the avocado industry.
After finishing his higher education, the young man launched a venture involving the brokerage and transportation of fruit from farms to processing facilities.
Mwangi was making a good income from the industry up until 2023, but then production declined sharply as the demand for the fruit increased significantly.
“I found it difficult to load the pickup truck with the fruit because shipping a partially filled vehicle was too costly, leaving me without any profit,” he explained.
However, while he awaited additional fruit supplies, the produce he had initially purchased from local farmers went bad, ultimately resulting in him giving it all to his pigs instead.
Struggling with setbacks, Mwangi needed to discover another method of generating income from his crops and opted to begin enhancing the fruit’s worth.
Given his constrained resources, Mwangi, an individual with expertise in plant operations, devised a manual setup capable of extracting oil from the fruits.
“I started with extensive research to grasp the process of extracting oil from avocados and to understand how pressing machines function,” he explained.
He then engaged a local jua kali artisan to establish the small plant, which is operated using hands.
Later, Mwangi established an office in Kiria-ini town within the Mathioya subcounty area, naming it Ewims Farm Enterprises.
Achieving parity was not an effortless feat, as the residents found it challenging to accept the new oil when he promoted it primarily as a cosmetic for enhancing skin and hair.
“He mentioned that he employed local young people for aggressive marketing campaigns aimed at informing residents about the advantages of avocados oil.” He also noted that the majority of his clientele consists of women.
Gradually, the perception began to shift, and people started purchasing it.
Mwangi stated that the enterprise has expanded and now provides employment for 20 local young people, who purchase avocados directly from farmers.
The young individuals have been educated to guarantee that solely ripe fruits are picked.
A different group consisting of 20 individuals is involved in processing the fruit and pressing the oil at the facility. Once the fruits arrive at the plant, they are placed in a storage area where they are permitted to fully ripe.
The selected items are sorted; those that have gone bad are discarded, whereas the mature ones undergo cleaning where their pulp is extracted, crushed, and kneaded. Following this process, they are left to dry under the sun prior to being fed into a press for extracting the oil, which is subsequently gathered and bottled in sizes of 65 ml and 120 ml.
“In just seven days, we generate approximately 20 liters of avocado oil, which we sell at Sh250 per 65 ml bottle and Sh500 for the larger 120 ml size,” he explained.
Our primary market is right here locally, but as we grow, we’re also making headway into the adjacent counties.
Mwangi has been involved in enhancing farmers’ skills to guarantee that only fully organic produce is supplied, as demand for health-conscious items increases.
Muranga County has taken the lead in promoting agroecology, encompassing practices like organic farming, as a means to reduce the prevalence of diseases among its inhabitants.
The study revealed that Murang’a was one of the counties with the highest rates of noncommunicable diseases.
Consequently, numerous farmers have turned to organic farming practices and avoided using damaging agricultural chemicals. Mwangi, who owns an orchard of 200 avocado trees, mentioned that he intends to obtain an automated press machine which would enable him to increase oil production.
“I have access to foreign markets, particularly in China, however, I’m not able to produce sufficient quantities for exporting the oil,” he stated.
He purchases the fruit at Sh15 per kilogram, and unlike other processors, he harvests all ripe fruits without extensive sorting since they are not intended for direct consumption.
He urged youths to try their luck in small and medium enterprises, saying it’s the only way to improve their lives while creating employment for others.
Alfred Kimani, who is among the young people involved in purchasing avocados from farmers, mentioned that he previously worked as a boda boda rider.
When Mwangi initiated the small plantation, Kimani seized the opportunity since he already owned a motorcycle which he used for transporting fruits from the farms.
“This job is simpler and yields better profits. All I need to handle is hiring harvesters and arranging for the fruit transportation to the factory,” he explained.
Muranga County leads as the top avocado producer in Kenya, offering locals a chance to participate in the fruit’s supply network.
The county is home to over 96,000 avocado farmers who presently yield approximately 500 metric tons each year.
The trend became widespread under the administration of ex-Governor Mwangi wa Iria, who provided over two million Hass avocado seedlings, allowing cultivators to transform it into an income-generating plant.
Previously, many rural homes grew only a small number of avocado trees to complement their family’s nutrition and make some additional income. Brokers often purchased these avocados for as little as KES 2 each, which was considered a minimal amount.
The local administration helped establish the Murang’a Avocado Farmers’ Association, enabling growers to participate in direct agreements with processing companies and export firms, thereby increasing their earnings to as much as 70 Kenyan shillings per kilo.
In 2021, Murang’a was responsible for 31 percent of the nation’s avocado production, and in 2023, this crop generated Ksh18 billion through exports.
