Be a Mavuno Farmer
What it takes to be a Mavuno farmer
Against the pristine backdrop of Kenya’s awe-inspiring landscapes and impeccable climate, Mavuno’s farmers work hard tending to the land, and producing some of the world’s finest avocados.
The global demand for avocados is consistently surging, growing as much as 6% annually. And as consumers’ desire for sustainable and organic produce grows, the economic opportunities for farmers are as ripe as their crops.
At Mavuno, we prime our farmers to seize these opportunities with both hands. Providing the logistics, infrastructure and educated workforce it takes to succeed in Kenya’s emerging organic produce industry.
The Mavuno farmer is small in scale but large in ambition
We are champions of East Africa’s smallholder farmers. We partner with hundreds of smallholder farmers, many of whom are family-owned enterprises, tending to an average of 0.5 hectares. We also work with larger-scale orchards covering as many as 50 hectares.
Mavuno farmers are defined by their dedication to peak agricultural practices, pinnacle quality, utmost safety and care for our planet. Our network is ever-growing, with all new farmers who join us, taking on our shared values as their own.
Why join the Mavuno farming network?
Strong all-round support
Fair prices
Rewarding loyalty
The confidence of certification
Fostering a balanced ecosystem
What our farmers say about working with Mavuno
I have managed to add livestock that also acts as an extra income to my family courtesy of working with Mavuno Organics.
Popular varieties and sprawling locations
We’re an award-winning organic company providing people around the globe with top-tier organic Kenyan avocados. We grow, harvest and distribute an exclusive selection of the world’s most popular varieties; Hass, Fuerte, and the Jumbo avocado seasonally.
We work with smallholder farmers across Kenya’s four counties; Nakuru, Nyeri, Muranga and Kiambu. While enjoying a strong, established presence across these locales, we’re also experiencing exciting growth in other territories – including Meru, Embu, Machakos, Bomet, Kissii and Uasin Gishu.
Safeguarding our planet’s future
While some may see sustainability as just another box to tick, here at Mavuno, it’s so much more. It’s not only what we do; it’s who we are. We take our responsibility for our precious land seriously and support every last one of our farmers to do the same.
We encourage our network to adopt farm-wide natural alternatives and organic practices including with their livestock. We also employ a full-time manager who views our business through a sustainability lens and provides recommendations and advice to improve. This manager is also on the ground and on hand for our farmers, training them in the best and brightest sustainability measures.
Not only do we provide training – we also offer access to resources, technology, concepts, philosophies and processes. All are targeted towards improving sustainability and protecting the land we hold so dear.
Ensuring our farmers’ success with Fairtrade
Fairtrade is a global initiative designed to empower producers in developing countries with decent wages, safe working conditions, and competitive trade opportunities. This resonates deeply with Mavuno’s core values, and we’re thrilled to have embarked on our Fairtrade journey.
We’re currently undertaking Fairtrade certification for our farmers to see them gain the financial rewards they deserve for producing the highest-quality crops. We aim to build their capabilities and knowledge and support them in their professional journeys. We provide a stable platform for our Fairtrade farmers to rely on fair and decent prices.
Further Fairtrade change is on the horizon at Mavuno, with the end of this season heralding the start of Fairtrade premiums. Among many other invaluable uses, some funds will go towards projects that bring transformational change to local communities. Projects include safe and clean drinking water, furthering children’s education with new classrooms, and protecting people’s health and well-being with new medical centres.
Pioneering the country’s organics industry
When Mavuno first began, Kenya’s organic industry was still in its infancy. Many of the steps we took within this emerging market were the first of their kind, and we’re proud to continue this pioneering organic culture with our farmers.
We seek to partner with smallholder farmers who share our pride and passion for organic produce. Those whose vision for Kenya’s organic industry is as ambitious and audacious as our own and who look forward to a world where organic produce from our beautiful country is revered as the best in the world.
What it takes to be a Mavuno farmer
If you’re interested in joining Mavuno’s expanding farmer network, there are a few critical criteria first to consider…
- Do you own a minimum of 0.4 hectares of land suitable for growing and harvesting crops?
- Is your soil regularly nourished with abundant and evenly distributed rainfall?
- Are you wholly committed to growing produce organically, just as nature intended?
- Are you prepared to take a zero-tolerance policy towards using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides?
- Do you see the value in using nutrient-rich compost and green manures across your farm?
- Do you agree to be internally and externally audited for organic and GlobalGap standards certification?
- Are you willing to attend the occasional training session, with Mavuno supporting you to uncover new and better ways to manage your orchard or farm?
- Are you ready to join a network of like-minded farmers in your area and work alongside one another as a cohesive group? After all, as the Swahili saying goes, ‘a single finger can not eliminate a louse’
- Are you ready to be rewardingly compensated for your hard work by entering the profitable world of avocado growing?