Improving Kenya's Domestic Horticultural Production and Marketing

FIGURE 2.5: YIELDS (TONS/HA) OF AVOCADOS, CITRUS AND PAWPAW IN KENYA
(1992-2001).
Yield (Tons/ha)
FIGURE 2.6: YIELDS (TONS/HA) OF PINEAPPLES IN KENYA (1992-2001).
Yield (Tons/ha)
18.00
16.00
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Years
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Years
The yields of most fruits in Kenya have generally been stagnant with the exception of
bananas, mangoes and passion fruits, which have risen (See Figures 2.4 – 2.6). Table 2.2
shows fruit yields in Kenya compared to those in the top five producing countries (by total
production) in the world for each crop. Notably, the yield of avocados and pineapples is
among the highest in this group, while the yield of mangoes and citrus is in the middle of the
pack. The production of mangoes, pineapples, and avocados has been the fastest growing
among the seven main fruit crops in Kenya (only passion fruit has shown higher percentage
growth in production over the past 10 years). The technology and production system for each
fruit differs, however, from country to country. For example, in Kenya production of
pineapples is entirely on plantations and it is both a capital- and input intensive system
(Jaffee, 1994). The yields would therefore be expected to be higher than those of the
countries where the production system is by smallholder farms. Bananas, on the other hand,
are produced under much less intensive systems in Kenya than in leading countries like Costa
Rica and Egypt, and thus show much lower yields.
8
Avocadoes
Citrus
Pawpaws