Bad News To Avocado Sellers Beginning Next Week.No More Export Of The Avocado Fruit From The Country.
Kenya as a country has been exporting avocado to the middle east countries. However, a ban on the exportation of the fruit has been put in place by the horticulture regulator.
The ban will be effected beginning on the fifteenth of this month. The regulator has banned exportation due to hungry dealers and farmers harvesting immature fruits for sale.
The exportation of immature fruits has affected the overseas market. The crop has been selling high in the global markets. This was before the hungry dealers and farmers started to export immature fruits.
The price for a unit of avocado was 945 Kenya shillings previously but this value dropped to 432 shillings after the quality of the crop dropped due to immaturity.
The varieties that are banned from exportation are Hass and Fuerte. Farmers with jumbo varieties will continue to export their crops.
Farmers with offseason variety will still be able to export their crops. However, they must write a letter to regional offices requesting inspection and verification within 24 hours from Friday 15.
Come January 25th 2022, a review will be carried out to see if the ban could be lifted.
The products to be exported must have a minimum size of 184g per fruit. Additionally, the transportation must be done by air, not through the sea.
The ban will be reviewed next year January and can be removed or not depending on the status or condition of the crop.
The crop has been contributing largely to the economy as its income returns take a total of all the horticulture earnings.
Locally, the prices for the commodity is also expected to increase due to an expected shortage of the fruit. Currently, an avocado that was selling at 20/= is being sold at 30/=.
