Training on integrated Pest Management in avocado crop for Kenyan MSMEs

A training on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in avocado crop is currently ongoing in Nairobi, Kenya. The training is being piloted by COLEACP, through the NExT Kenya programme, for the first time in a collective way. Participants from various Kenyan horticulture MSMEs involved in avocado production are in attendance. The training will also incorporate two field visits to avocado orchards to help fortify what has been learnt in the classroom.

At the end of this training the participants should be able to:

• List the pests and diseases of primary concern in avocado production in Kenya (focus on small holder growing context)
• Describe the main components of a functional pest and disease monitoring program
• Assess the robustness of their current pest and disease management strategy and estimate their current yield losses due to pest and disease pressure
• Draft the pest and disease monitoring strategy, including methodology and equipment  for their farm operations
• Perform crop scouting in a correct way and collect and register crop scouting data for the main pests and diseases making use of practical handouts such as registration forms
• Analyze the data of the monitoring, apply thresholds and inform the crop protection decision making process.
• Train extension staff, crop scouts and farmers on how to recognize the main pests and diseases on avocado relevant for their area and on how to monitor the pests and diseases with economic impact (crop scouting)
• Make the appropriate crop protection decision taking into account thresholds, feasibility, registered products for avocado for Kenya and the production system (conventional/organic, small holder production/professional orchard production)