New Dawn As Farmers Get New Market For Avocado Export

By Jane Muia / Published February 17, 2023 | 2:21 pm

KEY POINTS

Murang’a avocado has the highest demand in the market owing to its quality. According to Gitau, the county has 92,250 avocado farmers who can produce up to 700 metric tons annually.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Avocado earned Kenya 7 Billion shillings in the three months to October last year exceeding the 6 billion shillings that were fetched in the first seven months of the year, signaling the high demand the fruit has generated in the Asian Market.

A Murang’a farmer’s union has commenced construction of an aggregation house that will enable farmers to pack and export avocadoes to international buyers.

This follows the emergence of new international markets in Mexico, Dubai, China, and Egypt where the farmers will be exporting the produce.

Speaking during the groundbreaking for the construction of the aggregation house on Wednesday in Kandara, the Chairman of the union Mr. Mwaniki Gitau said the move is a great milestone toward taming brokers who have been exploiting farmers.

The project, funded by the World Bank and the county government through the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) is expected to be completed before the end of this year.

“With the aggregation house, we will be able to sort, wash, and package quality fruits for international markets. This will bring in more returns to farmers,” said Gitau.

Murang’a leads in the production of avocados with more than 80 percent of the produce destined for the export market. Moreover, Murang’a avocado has the highest demand in the market owing to its quality. According to Gitau, the county has 92,250 avocado farmers who can produce up to 700 metric tons annually. The current production of fruit in the county stands at 500 metric tons. The union vowed to ensure that international standards are met to ensure increased earnings for the farmers.

“We are doing organic farming as per the international standards and this will ensure we give the best quality to the market,” he added.

The key buyers for Kenyan avocados are the Netherlands, the United Arabs Emirates, France, Spain, Russia, and the United Kingdom, with China and Malaysia being the newest markets.

Since it entered the Chinese market last year, the fruit has been fetching better prices with a kilo going for about $8 (1,006.40 shillings) when compared to the $6 (754.80 shillings) offered by the traditional European market.

The fruit earned Kenya 7 Billion shillings in the three months to October last year exceeding the 6 billion shillings that were fetched in the first seven months of the year, signaling the high demand the fruit has generated in the Asian Market. Other countries including Korea and Italy have in the last years been seeking to buy Kenyan avocados owing to their high-fat content.