Feico Smit can safely be called an Africa expert. In the 1990s, he was the first to travel around Africa for flower auctions. Feico has now relocated there for the fourth time. In November 2021, he became COO of Mount Elgon Orchards Kenya, a combined rose and avocado farm.
Kenya's avocado season has just started. "Picking in now well underway, and the first containers were loaded last week," begins Feico. The cultivation company is located - as its name suggests - near Mount Elgon, an extinct stratovolcano on the Uganda/Kenya border. It is a national park in both countries.
"We produce avocados on 120 hectares. Most, about 95%, of the total assortment is Hass. Our growing conditions are unusual by African standards. We grow at an altitude of two kilometers, have good irrigation possibilities, and access to good soil. That results in our avocados having a much higher than average fat content than other Kenyan avocados." Harvesting starts in April, and the company delivers its last avocados in September/October.
"We sort strictly too. The production manager is in the orchard all day with a dry matter meter. And the workers are well trained. Customers know our boxes contain avocadoes, not stones. Many small-scale growers in Kenya supply traders who are, therefore, stuck with many different qualities. That doesn't always benefit Kenyan avocados' reputation. We, however, control everything, from cultivation to marketing. That's why our clients like working with us," says Feico.
Most of the farm's avocados are currently being sold to the Netherlands and Asia. "Last year, we exported 60-70% to the Netherlands. This year's market situation is a bit down, but there's still demand from all sides. That, too, has to do with our quality selection." This week, for the first time, Kuehne Nagel loaded a full container directly from Mount Elgon Orchards instead of the usual route via Nairobi airport's cold stores.
This rose/avocado farm covers 650 hectares in total. "Many of our crops have only been planted in recent years, so will come into full production in the coming years. We still have plenty of expansion plans and haven't nearly reached our peak. Worldwide avocado consumption is increasing, so there's plenty of potential," Smit continues.
There is also synergy between the rose and avocado cultivation. "Our avocadoes peak in the rose off-season. We consider it a form of risk spreading too. However, both product groups have challenges. Much is being said and written about the crisis in horticulture. But, given how high transport and fertilizers prices are, that's affecting the exotic fruit sector too. Airfreight and container prices have more than doubled in the last 18 months."
Feico is proud of Mount Elgon Orchard's establishment. "That, too, is set up very professionally. People can do vocational training here to become auto mechanics, electricians, carpenters, hairdressers, or growers. We also have a hospital that treats as many as 63,000 patients a year. How well this is set up is really the cherry on top."
Yet, there are challenges aplenty. "It's still Africa," laughs Feico. "A day never goes as anticipated; something always happens. We're far from Nairobi. We, therefore, have to ensure we're self-sufficient in everything, so we can always keep going. That's not always easy. For example, Kenya currently has a diesel shortage, which is why we make sure we have a strategic supply of this. The same goes for fertilizer," he concludes.
For more information:
Feico Smit
Mount Elgon Orchards
P.O. Box 124, Kitale
Kenya
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mtelgon.com