Scribd
Upload
371 views2 pages

Agriculture Project

The document discusses the benefits of whip grafting for improving avocado production in Kenya, addressing issues such as poor-quality seed varieties, long maturity periods, disease susceptibility, low export market access, and land scarcity. Grafting can enhance fruit quality, reduce time to harvest, and increase yields, ultimately boosting farmers' incomes and export potential. Recommendations include teaching grafting techniques to students and subsidizing grafted seedlings for smallholder farmers.

Uploaded by

njerujoann
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
371 views2 pages

Agriculture Project

The document discusses the benefits of whip grafting for improving avocado production in Kenya, addressing issues such as poor-quality seed varieties, long maturity periods, disease susceptibility, low export market access, and land scarcity. Grafting can enhance fruit quality, reduce time to harvest, and increase yields, ultimately boosting farmers' incomes and export potential. Recommendations include teaching grafting techniques to students and subsidizing grafted seedlings for smallholder farmers.

Uploaded by

njerujoann
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

*The Most Pressing Problem Addressed by Avocado Whip Grafting**

The whip grafting practical on avocado directly tackles Kenya’s pressing


issue of low-quality avocado production, which affects farmers’ incomes and
export potential. Here’s how:

1. Problem: Poor-Quality Avocado Varieties from Seed Propagation

*Issue: Avocados grown from seeds are **not true-to-type**, leading to:

- Variable fruit size, taste, and ripening times.

- Low market value (rejected for export).

- *Solution: Grafting ensures uniform, high-quality fruits (e.g., Hass,


Fuerte).

2. Problem: Long Maturity Period (5-7 Years from Seeds)

- *Issue: Farmers wait too long for profits, discouraging investment.

- *Solution: Grafted avocados bear fruit in 2-3 years, improving cash flow.

3. Problem: Disease Susceptibility

- Issue: Seed-grown trees are more vulnerable to root rot (e.g.,


*Phytophthora*).

- Solution:Grafting onto disease-resistant rootstocks enhances survival.

4. Problem: Low Export Market Access

- Issue: Kenya’s avocado exports face rejections due to inconsistent quality.

- Solution:Grafting ensures premium, export-ready varieties (e.g., Hass).

5. Problem: Land Scarcity & Low Yields

- Issue: Small farms struggle with low productivity.


- Solution:Grafted trees are more compact and high-yielding, maximizing
land use.

Why This Matters for KCSE & Kenyan Farmers

- KCSE Relevance:The practical teaches propagation skills to address real


agricultural challenges.

- Economic Impact: If adopted widely, grafting can boost Kenya’s avocado


export earnings (currently ~Ksh 14B/year).

Recommendation:

✅ Teach more students grafting to spread this knowledge to smallholder


farmers.

✅ Government/NGOs should subsidize grafted seedlings for higher adoption.

**Final Thought:**

This practical isn’t just for exams—it’s a solution to Kenya’s avocado quality
crisis, helping farmers compete globally !

You might also like