On 14 August 2026, the Complex Food Agro team participated in a farmers’ exhibition in Nakuru, Kenya. Although the event was relatively small in scale, it provided a valuable opportunity to engage directly with avocado and vegetable growers, gain first-hand insight into the production challenges they face, and introduce EcoRic Bio Series and EcoRic Protect Series as a biological solutions that may support healthier crop production.
Direct Dialogue with Farmers
For Complex Food Agro, participation in industry events is not only about presenting products, but also about listening to growers and understanding the realities of agricultural production at farm level.
During the exhibition in Nakuru, the team discussed plant health, disease pressure, pest challenges, and the effectiveness of current crop protection practices with local farmers.
Several key issues affecting avocado production were highlighted:
- Phytophthora Root Rot a serious soil-borne disease that can damage root systems, reduce plant vigour, and negatively affect overall productivity;
- Verticillium Wilt a disease that may cause wilting and dieback of individual branches;
- Cercospora Leaf and Fruit Spot a disease associated with spotting on leaves and fruit, with development often favoured by humid and wet conditions;
- Persea Mite an important pest concern that can place additional pressure on plant health and crop performance.
These discussions provided the team with a clearer understanding of the challenges growers are experiencing under real production conditions.
Growing Demand for More Sustainable Crop Health Solutions
Farmers explained that they have used a range of chemical control methods over time to manage diseases and pests. However, several participants expressed dissatisfaction with the results achieved, noting that certain fungal and bacterial problems continue to affect production.
This highlights a growing interest in alternative and complementary approaches that can form part of a broader, integrated crop health management strategy.
Introducing EcoRic solutions to Local Growers
During the exhibition, the Complex Food Agro team introduced farmers to EcoRic Solutions and discussed its potential use as part of an integrated crop health management programme.
A key focus of the engagement was practical field evaluation. Selected farmers received small EcoRic sample bottles for testing under normal farm conditions.
This approach gives growers an opportunity to assess the product in their own production environments, taking into account local soil conditions, crop management practices, and specific plant health challenges.
The Next Step: Field Follow-Up and Evaluation
The Nakuru exhibition marks the beginning of a longer-term engagement with the participating farmers.
The Complex Food Agro team plans to follow up with growers who received EcoRic samples, confirm application dates and conditions, monitor crop response, and collect structured feedback from the field.
Where results are promising, selected farms may be considered for larger demonstration plots and future farmer-to-farmer knowledge-sharing activities.
The company also intends to continue building relationships with avocado growers, farmer cooperatives, organic farming groups, and exporters in the region.
The Value of Small-Scale Industry Engagement
The farmers’ exhibition in Nakuru demonstrated that meaningful industry engagement does not always require a large international event.
Smaller, focused exhibitions can create an ideal environment for detailed conversations with individual growers, allowing agricultural companies to understand specific production challenges and explore practical opportunities for collaboration.
The event provided Complex Food Agro with valuable direct feedback from avocado farmers and confirmed growers’ interest in alternative and complementary approaches to crop health management. The distribution of EcoRic samples creates an opportunity to continue that dialogue through practical field experience.
For Complex Food Agro, working directly with farmers remains an important part of product and market development: listening to growers, evaluating solutions under real farming conditions, and building future cooperation on the basis of practical results.