Demand for avocados, vegetables and cashew nuts has surged in Australia, opening a lucrative window for Kenyan producers, the country’s diplomat in Nairobi has said.
Australian High Commissioner John Feakes said Kenya stands to reap a fortune from supplying the continent with the products alongside cut flowers.
The announcement comes amid a steep drop in Kenyan exports to Australia, having shrunk by nearly a quarter to Sh2.3 billion last year compared to Sh3 billion in 2014.
“Australia provides a huge market for Kenyan produce and investors should take advantage of this opportunity,” said Mr Feakes during last Friday’s launch of the Kenya Australia Chamber of Commerce — a lobby that promotes bilateral trade.
The lobby is a point of reference for investors seeking to invest in Nairobi and Canberra. Avocado farming has recently attracted global attention. Last week, Israeli firm Guri Avocados inked a deal with Kiambu County which will see farmers export the fruits to Israel.
Cashew nuts are mainly grown in the Kenyan coast. Studies show that eating the nuts reduces chances of heart attack.
Agriculture is Kenya’s backbone and accounted for 30 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) last year.
Kenya mainly exports tea, coffee and horticultural produce.
About 1,500 Kenyan students are admitted to universities in Australia while others are working in sectors like ICT, education, mining, oil and gas and infrastructure. Thirty Australian companies operate in Kenya, according to records from the embassy.
Australian firm Base Resources is mining titanium in the Kenyan coastal county of Kwale. In 2014 titanium was Kenya’s highest earning mineral and last year opened a wide lead over soda ash and gold.
Official data shows that Kenya exported titanium worth Sh9.4 billion last year, up from Sh8.8 billion in 2014, representing a seven per cent growth.
CREDIT: Business Daily