Kenya Eyes on China and Indian Markets for Avocado Exports

It will be a big boost for avocado farmers in Kenya as the country plans to start exporting to India and China as it seeks to expand its reach beyond the traditional market.

Avocado Society of Kenya (ASK) CEO Muthomi Ernest revealed that the government has so far inked a deal that will see the country export the produce to the two countries, a move that aims at boosting Kenya’s exports. Owing to the high population in the two countries, Kenya anticipates exporting more avocados which will see the farmers receive better earnings.

“It’s now a question of when to export because the deal has successfully been negotiated. Once the Chinese start consuming avocados, farmers will be smiling all the way to the bank,” The CEO said.

Last week the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) announced that it had received inquiries from Malaysia, whose officials want to visit the country to assess if Kenya can export pest-free avocadoes to this Asian nation.

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“We have received inquiries from Malaysia and we expect officials from that country to visit soon to kickstart the process of buying our produce,” KEPHIS Managing Director, Theophilus Mutui said.

This shows that the Kenyan avocado has generated high demand in the global sphere.

According to the Avocado Society of Kenya, there are more than 100 varieties of avocado, but only four have reached international markets. These include Fuerte, Hass, Pankay, and Jumbo. Out of the 240,000 tons of avocado produced annually, only 85 tons of the produce is exported.

In Kenya, Murang’a leads in the production of avocado with more than 80 percent of the produce destined for the export market. It is then followed by Nyeri, Kiambu, and Kisii counties. Murang’a avocado has the highest demand in the market owing to its quality.

In 2020, Kenya shipped 70 million kilograms of avocado valued at 14 billion shillings to the international market. The exports recorded an increase in 2021 with the country exporting 85 million kilograms worth 14.4 billion shillings.

Kenya has been unable to reach some of the global markets for exports due to pests which have seen some markets, especially in Europe ban its produce, including horticultural produce. To curb this, the government has initiated some special mechanisms including the establishment of pest-free zones, with Makueni and Elgeyo Marakwet counties being the top beneficiaries.