Skip to content
Headlines

Harvesting of Premature Avocados Hurting Kenya’s International Markets

BY Soko Directory Team · March 27, 2019 06:03 am

Kenyan avocados have always been the best but rampant harvesting of the premature fruits is ruining its reputation, the Avocado Society of Kenya says.

According to Alex Muthomi, the society’s Chief Executive, there are concerns that the idea of harvesting avocados that haven’t reached maturity may lead to international buyers shunning the fruits from Kenya.

Immature avocados hardly fetch the right amount of cash. Furthermore, its exports have often been rejected, a scenario that forces sellers to seek alternative markets in other countries.

READ

Muthomi emphasized the need for thorough sensitization and equipping farmers with the right skills that will enable them to harvest avocados that are up to par with industry standards.

Speaking at Murang’a University of Technology during an avocado exhibition and conference held on March 22, Muthomi noted that the international demand for the fruit is high, which has forced farmers who want quick cash to harvest avocados early.

“In the European market where our avocados are traded, sometimes buyers opt to buy from other countries when they find out fruits are not mature,” he noted.

Greed

According to Muthomi, exporters who purchase the fruit from farmers without considering whether the avocados have reached maturity are largely to blame.

The premature fruits, in storage, do not ripen but darken and begin rotting leading to tremendous losses.

As a countermeasure, the society said that it will embark on training its 8,000 members as well as 81 traders to make sure that the avocados that reach the market are of the appropriate quality.

Also, the society looks to encourage more farmers to venture into avocado farming claiming that there is a big international market gap that needs to be filled, particularly after China expressed interest in Kenyan avocados.

SEE China’s Deal to Provide Kenyan Farmers with Over 40 Percent Fresh Produce Market

Currently, Murang’a leads with 57 percent production among the avocado producing counties. The county produces mostly the Hass and Fuete varieties.

On that note, Paul Mbugua, Kakuzi Ltd Commercial Manager said that the Hass avocados should not be harvested before March while that of Pinkerton variety should be done from February of every year.

The prices of avocados as of March 26 ranges from 800 shillings per 90kg bag, the lowest in Kisii, and 4,000 shillings for a 90kg bag in Mombasa. The same quantity of the product goes for 3,000 shillings in Nairobi, and 3,800 shillings in Eldoret.

READ ALSO South Africa Lifts 11-Year-Old Avocado Ban

Soko Directory is a Financial and Markets digital portal that tracks brands, listed firms on the NSE, SMEs and trend setters in the markets eco-system. Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/SokoDirectory and on Twitter: twitter.com/SokoDirectory

Trending Stories
Related Articles
Explore Soko Directory
Soko Directory Archives