Kenya Pushes Green Wealth Drive as Mugambi Launches One Million Avocado Tree Campaign in Nkuene

The government has intensified efforts to promote commercial tree farming as a key pillar of rural wealth creation, with Principal Secretary for Forestry Gitonga Mugambi launching an ambitious campaign targeting the planting of one million avocado trees in Mitunguu/Nkuene Sub-County, Meru County.

The initiative is aimed at boosting household incomes, expanding agro-forestry production, and positioning Kenyan farmers to benefit from growing international demand for avocados in key export markets.

Speaking during a seedlings distribution exercise in Nkuene, PS Mugambi urged farmers to embrace avocado cultivation, describing it as one of the most profitable agricultural ventures currently available due to rising global consumption.

He noted that Kenya has already secured expanded market access in countries such as China and Japan through trade engagements led by the government, creating new opportunities for farmers to increase exports and earnings.

“We want avocado farming to create more wealth for our farmers. When President William Ruto and I visited China and Japan, we secured access to huge markets for our produce. We now need to increase production to take advantage of those opportunities,” Mugambi said.

The PS emphasized that his office would take responsibility for sourcing high-quality avocado seedlings, while farmers would focus on planting and nurturing the trees to maturity.

True to the commitment, Mugambi kick-started the initiative by distributing 3,000 avocado seedlings to farmers in Uruku and Ukuu locations, with more distributions expected across other parts of the sub-county in the coming weeks.

He said the long-term goal is to scale up production to meet export demand, attract more buyers, and stimulate the establishment of value addition industries within the region.

“Many buyers are forced to leave because farmers harvest small quantities that cannot even fill a single pickup. Our task is to plant more trees, increase production, and eventually establish industries here to create employment opportunities,” he said.

The PS expressed confidence that farmers in the region could surpass the one-million-tree target, noting that collective participation would significantly strengthen local economic resilience.

Beyond avocado farming, Mugambi encouraged farmers to continue investing in dairy production, which he described as a stable and reliable source of household income.

“There is money in milk, and we must continue creating avenues for farmers to earn more from dairy farming,” he said, citing a recent payout of over Sh30 million to local dairy farmers through cooperative societies as evidence of the sector’s potential.

He also announced plans to diversify agro-forestry initiatives by introducing cocoa seedlings and sandalwood trees, which he described as high-value commercial crops capable of transforming rural livelihoods.

Mugambi said sandalwood, in particular, has strong commercial value in international markets and could offer farmers an additional long-term income stream if well cultivated.

The campaign is part of broader government efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture, increase tree cover, and enhance rural economic empowerment through sustainable farming practices.

Agricultural stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, noting that successful implementation could significantly boost exports, create jobs, and improve household incomes across the region.