Big Blow As Kenya The Biggest Avocado Exporter In Africa Is Banned From The Trade

Kenyans farmers continue to suffer a huge deal under the current government and recent suspension of the export of avocados by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) will definitely weigh the farmers down even more.

The notice signed by interim head of Horticultural Crops Directorate Bernard Ondanje that dates back to January 23, 2020 says the move to suspend the export was meant to safeguard quality.

“The directorate has been forced to implement stringent rules to safeguard our export market and all avocado varieties have been suspended until further notice… The enforcement of this restriction is to ensure quality products are produced and marketed. Harvesting and export of immature avocado has negatively affected Kenyan image in overseas markets,” the notice to all avocado exporters reads.

This is also another blow to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s manifesto and his big four agenda, none of which has manifested. The ban comes just nine months after Uhuru signed a deal with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping allowing Kenya to export frozen avocado to China.

Kenya’s avocado market has now been reduced to European Union countries which accounts for 42 pc and the Middle East at 28 pc.

Demand for the fruit in the international market slowly rose in the last year by between 50 and 80 pc compared to the previous year with more customers demanding full containers of avocado per month.

Farmers have blamed middle men and companies contracted to buy the fruit for putting pressure on them to harvest avocados prematurely in their greedy bid to make millions from the huge Chinese market.