Kenya will close avocado export on November 3, 2023, to prevent the harvesting and exporting of immature fruits. The Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) found that there were insufficient mature fruits in orchards across the country. The HCD also noted that there had been cases of exporters harvesting and exporting immature fruits in the past, which had damaged Kenya’s reputation in the global avocado market.
The HCD has allowed the export of avocados by air, subject to inspection and approval. This is to allow exporters to ship any ripe avocados that are ready for export. The HCD has also said that it will reopen avocado exports by sea once there is sufficient volume of mature fruit available.
The directorate says the decision follows a survey it undertook to establish the maturity indices of avocados in major production zones.
“Following the findings of the survey, we hereby notify the Kenyan avocado stakeholders that the closing of Hass, Pinkerton, Fuerte and Jumbo harvesting season and export by sea for the 2023/2024 fiscal year shall be in force with effect from 3rd November 2023,” said HCD acting director-general Willis Audi.
He added: “Export clearance (including fruit consignments from the EAC region) shall be granted for air shipment, subject to inspection by the directorate. Traceability information will be required for all consignments.”
Temporary bans on export is one the measures Kenya takes to deter premature harvesting of the popular fruit, which leads to export of low-quality produce putting at risk the country’s outside markets.
This comes at a time demand for avocado has risen significantly in recent years, leading to better prices for the fruit.
In the half year to June 2023 for instance, Kakuzi, an agro firm listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), more than doubled its profits from avocado during the period to Sh654.8 million up from Sh288.6 million in 2022 with with exports to Europe and China peaking.
Kenya’s temporary closure of avocado exports is a necessary step to ensure the quality and safety of exported avocados and to protect the country’s avocado industry.
