Avocado Plant Breeding.

I had though of creating a plant breeding program for Avocados as it is close to impossible to obtain quality varieties of Avocado plants locally.

Avocado Plant Breeding.

There are lots of questions in my mind. Which is the best variety? Which is the most suitable variety to grow locally. Which variety are most accepted by the local market? Or neighboring countries? Which variety has the longest shelve life? Which variety perform the best in logistic, like packaging, transportation etc and etc.

Avocado Hybridization.

As of last year I though of initiating a breeding program for long term production to produce a hybrid locally that can satisfy all the local needs. A personal Holy Grail of sort for Avocado. This shall takes up a very long time and I don't think I have the resources to even start it.

Avocado Trees In Plant Breeding.

Am shelving this project as I had found a place that is already doing this. They had already accumulated more than 30 years of experience and had already started to release their Hass Hybrid. I don't need to re-invent the wheel. I can just tag on to their research, learn & gain from them. I guess I only have to work on localizing their hybrid. This shall save us tremendous resources. Shall try to initiate contact & communication and hopefully work with them in the near future. Am very grateful to them letting me in to tour their facilities.

Hass Avocado.

The research center is located in a valley of about 640 meters, surrounded by hills of more than 860 meters. They are also blessed with black fertile soil, with water (stream). A comparison to our farm, ranging from 450 to 550 meters with red clayish soil and a stream at the bottom of the foot hill. I guess this should be adaptable and should not post too much of a challenge as we already have Avocados plants growing here, even Hass Avocado (from seeds).

Avocado.

I hope to make more trips here to further my understanding on Avocado and understand how hybridizing is carried out and share with all Avocado plant lovers.

While I was touring their facilities I notice other varieties like Pinkerton, Bacon, Fuerte & etc. Would love to get my hands on these too.

CrowdFunding In Farming, Project Hass Avocado.

We had recently concluded a project to acquire Grafted Hass Avocado plants via crowd funding. Crowd funding as described by Wikipedia

Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, typically via the internet. One early-stage equity expert described it as “the practice of raising funds from two or more people over the internet towards a common Service, Project, Product, Investment, Cause, and Experience”
The crowdfunding model is fueled by three types of actors: the project initiator who proposes the idea and/or project to be funded; individuals or groups who support the idea; and a moderating organization (the "platform") that brings the parties together to launch the idea.

Some of the Grafted Hass Avocado plants that were bagged.

I took on the role of the project initiator, proposing that we come up with a fund, whereby I use this fund for the purpose of acquiring Grafted Hass Avocado plants. I proposed to come up with 10 "share". Each share for a certain amount qualify for 1 plants. Participant are welcomed to take up in more than 1 share.

Baby Avocado fruits.

This project was launched via our Face Book account Avocado & Fig Wholesale. & Avocados Lovers Malaysia. As there were only 10 shares, all were snapped up very quickly. We made it as a first registered, first served. Then followed by a waiting list. As it was a forward project, no funds were collected during the registration.

Grafted Avocado plants.

Grafted Avocado plants already flowering.

Arrangements / bookings were all made using my own funds. 2 weeks before departing, I contacted all the participants to transfer in their funds. Yes some could not make it due to various reasons and those on the waiting list were moved forward. Managed to collect all the funding 2 days before departure.

Upon arrival at destination, I made contacted with our supplier. Further arrangement were made, as I need to verify that the products are actually as described. Once it was verified, booking were paid. We then discussed on the packaging / timing of delivery and other logistic. Updated all participants.

Baby Avocado fruits.

D day for delivery, one final inspection, all payment sorted out and packing closed. Had a very smooth home coming. Contacted participants to make arrangement for collection.

Baby Avocado fruits.

Project concluded (almost, 1 participant had not response to the collection advise). Fulfillment done and completed successfully. Congratulation to all the participants as we are the first to acquire Grafted Hass Avocado plants via Crowdfunding.

This project gave us a very good experience and may gear us for bigger projects in the future.

Figs Going To The Ground.

We are left with Pinggo De Mel (Drop Of Honey), Black Mission, Breba Branca and an Unknow ID Portugal Fig.

Pinggo De Mel.

Only Pinggo De Mel had bear fruit and I had tasted it. It is refreshing, but not as the name suggested, A drop of honey. I don't feel that it is that sweet. Black Mission bore fruits but dropped. Brena Branca & Unknown are still having fruits, yet to ripe.

Pinggo De Mel, so juicy & refreshing.

We had managed to propagate 2 baby Pinggo De Mel. I start on these as am certain that it can fruit in our condition.

Baby Pinggo Number 1.

Had transferred the Pinggo & Black Mission into the farm and had them planted on the ground. Shall check back next month on their progress in their new home.

Mama Pinggo Number 1.

While transferring I inspected the roots, it is developed, but not the much. I shall have to modify the media so as the roots shall grow better on the newer potting. 

Black Mission going into ground on a cliff.

Black Mission going into rocky ground.