KENYA WILL STOP EXPORTING AVOCADOS ON FRIDAY.

As part of its efforts to safeguard Kenya’s lucrative export industry, the government has suspended the shipment of avocados as of this Friday to give the fruits time to mature.

The Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) said on Tuesday that, as of November 3, 2023, the export of Hass, Pinkerton, Fuerte, and Jumbo avocado kinds via sea would be stopped.

Nonetheless, the directorate has approved the air transportation of avocados, including those coming from other East African Community (EAC) nations. According to the directorate, the choice was made in response to a study it conducted to verify the maturity indices of avocado fruits in the main production zones.

Acting Director-General Willis Audi of HCD stated, “In light of the survey’s results, we hereby notify the Kenyan avocado stakeholders that the closure of the Hass, Pinkerton, Fuerte, and Jumbo harvesting season and export by sea for the 2023/2024 fiscal year shall be in force with effect from November 3, 2023.”

“Export clearance shall be granted for air shipment, subject to inspection by the Directorate,” he continued, “including fruit consignments from the EAC region.” There will be a requirement for traceability information on all shipments.

Kenya employs temporary export prohibitions as one of its primary strategies to prevent avocados from being harvested too soon, which results in the export of inferior fruit.

This occurs at a time when avocado prices have improved due to a notable increase in demand for the fruit in recent years.

For example, Kakuzi, an agricultural company listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), more than doubled its avocado earnings in the six months leading up to June 2023, reaching Sh654.8 million from Sh288.6 million in 2022, with a high in shipments to China and Europe.