By Victor Prince
What began as a grassroots initiative in 2021 to encourage farmers to plant avocado trees has grown into one of the most promising community-led horticultural success stories in Kenya. In Gitombani Village, Maara Constituency, Tharaka Nithi County, hundreds of smallholder farmers are transforming their livelihoods through commercial avocado farming, thanks to visionary local leadership and a strategic partnership with Sunripe Vertical Agro Group.
The project, spearheaded by Catherine Riungu, has united farmers under a common vision of producing high-quality avocados for the export market while creating sustainable incomes for their families. Over the past five years, thousands of avocado trees have been established across the village, turning once underutilised land into productive orchards and positioning Gitombani as an emerging hub for premium avocado production.
Beyond increasing household incomes, the initiative has promoted environmental conservation through tree planting, improved food security and strengthened community cohesion as farmers work together to develop a commercially viable avocado value chain.
From exploitation to opportunity
For many years, Gitombani’s avocado farmers faced a common challenge. Despite investing years in nurturing their orchards, they were forced to rely on brokers who dictated prices and often purchased their produce at throwaway prices.
With limited access to reliable markets and little bargaining power, many growers had no choice but to sell their avocados cheaply, earning returns that did not reflect the true value of their produce.
“Our farmers have worked hard to establish their orchards, but many have not enjoyed the full value of their produce because they depended on brokers who offered very low prices. We believe farmers deserve better. They deserve partners who will grow with them, not simply buy from them,” said Catherine Riungu.
The arrival of Sunripe Vertical Agro Group marks a turning point. Rather than acting solely as a buyer, the company is building a long-term partnership focused on strengthening every stage of avocado production—from orchard management to accessing premium international markets.
Tackling the biggest production challenges
While market access remains critical, farmers say pests and diseases have become thegreatest challenge affecting avocado production. Diseases and destructive pests continue to reduce yields, compromise fruit quality and increase production costs, threatening the profitability of many orchards.
Another growing concern is the theft of mature avocados from farms. As avocado farming becomes increasingly profitable, thieves have targeted orchards during harvesting seasons, leaving farmers counting heavy losses after investing years in establishing their trees.
The new partnership seeks to address these challenges through continuous farmer training, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), integrated pest and disease management, proper pruning, soil fertility improvement, harvesting techniques and post-harvest handling. Farmers will also receive technical support aimed at improving orchard productivity while ensuring their fruit consistently meets export standards.
A market waiting for Kenyan avocados
Speaking during the engagement with farmers, Sunripe Vertical Agro Group ChiefExecutive Officer Tiku Shah expressed confidence in the future of the Gitombani project, noting that international demand for quality avocados continues to grow.
“There is a large market out there, and the farmers here already have the good quality that international buyers are looking for. Our responsibility is to help them produce consistently, maintain the highest standards and connect them to those markets. If we continue working together, within the next five years these farmers should be harvesting up to 50 tonnes eachseason, creating sustainable wealth for their families and strengthening Kenya’s position as one of the world’s leading avocado exporters,” said Shah.
He added that the partnership is designed not only to purchase fruit but also to build long-term relationships that empower farmers with knowledge, technology and reliable market opportunities.
Building a model farming community
For Catherine Riungu, the success of the initiative extends beyond avocado production. She believes the project demonstrates what can be achieved when communities organise themselves around a shared vision and are supported by committed private-sector partners.
“We have the right environment for avocado production, and we have the numbers to achieve this vision. Since the project started in 2021, our farmers have remained committed despite many challenges. With continued training, strong partnerships and access to reliable markets, Gitombani has every opportunity to become a model for community-driven commercial avocado farming in Kenya,” she said.
Riungu noted that empowering farmers with knowledge is just as important as providing market access. By adopting modern production practices and improving orchard management, growers will be better positioned to produce export-quality fruit consistently while protecting their farms from pests, diseases and other production risks.
Looking beyond the orchard
The partnership also supports the broader vision of creating a resilient rural economy. Increased avocado production is expected to generate employment opportunities for young people in nursery management, orchard maintenance, harvesting, aggregation, grading, packaging and transportation.
Future plans include introducing complementary enterprises such as managed pollination and expanded farmer training programmes to improve yields, promote biodiversity and diversify household incomes.
A brighter future for Gitombani
As Kenya continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the world’s leading avocado exporters, Gitombani Village is emerging as a shining example of what can be achieved through organised farmers, visionary leadership and strategic partnerships.
The journey that began in 2021 is now laying the foundation for a sustainable horticultural enterprise capable of transforming lives for generations to come. With the support of Sunripe Vertical Agro Group, farmers are moving beyond exploitation by brokers towards a future defined by fair prices, technical excellence, quality production and direct participation in the lucrative global avocado market.
For the farmers of Gitombani, the future is no longer simply about growing avocados—it is about building prosperity, protecting their investment and ensuring that the fruits of their labour reach the international markets they deserve.