Kenya’s horticulture regulator has suspended avocado exports (Fuerte and Hass varieties) to curb harvesting of immature crop, with effect from 15th November 2021.
However, exporters of the Jumbo variety are exempted from the suspension, alongside those having off-season crop. Still, they will only do it by air and not sea, with the size expected to be at least 184 grammes for a single fruit.
Further, dealers and companies with off-season crop shall be required to request verification for inspection from HCD regional offices in writing within 24 hours as from 15th November.
The review on when the ban will be lifted will be conducted on 15th January next year to ascertain the status of the crop.
The move by the regulator is aimed at curbing harvesting of immature crop following rampant cases of traders picking young crops previously to capitalise on high prices of the commodity at the international market.
During the 12 month period that ended in October 2020, the country’s earnings from avocado exports rose by 40% to KSh14 Billion from KSh10 billion in 2019. In the period under review, the country exported 68,000 tonnes, a 15% jump from 59,000 tonnes exported in a similar period in 2019.
The value of Kenya’s avocado exports jumped 93 per cent to Sh4.26 billion in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous period, data by the Horticulture Directorate shows, buoyed by improved demand in global markets.
Kenya also exported 26,481 tonnes of the fruit between January and March this year compared to 15,101 tonnes in 2020.
According to data from FPEAK, Kenya is the world’s third-largest producer of avocados. With a market share of 2.1%, Kenya was ranked 8th globally in 2019 in export of avocados behind Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Spain, Chile, Colombia and the United States.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing avocados exporters since 2015 were: Colombia (up 1,607%), Dominican Republic (up 424.2%), Morocco (up 206.6%) and Kenya (up 161.5%).
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