Kenya leads Africa’s avocado exports. Horticulture Crops Directorate (HCD) Director Benjamin revealed the report and said the country was among the world’s top 10 producers, with Murang’a leading with 31% of total production.
Mr. Tito said that Murang’a was followed closely by Kiambu, Nakuru, Kisii, Nyamira, Meru and Bomet counties. newcomers Nyeri, Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu have nearly doubled the area under production and are counties to watch in the next two years when their avocado crops comes mature. Between January to November this year, avocado farmers earned Sh14.48 billion compared to Sh14.41 billion over a similar period last year.
“Volumes of the highly sought commodity in the local and international market went up to 84.5 million kilos from 70.3 million kilograms recorded between January-November 2020. The directorate in conjunction with other value chain players have closed the current season’s avocado harvesting starting 15th November to early January 2022,” he said.
Overseas market
This, he said is aimed at preventing export of immature avocados which he said has negatively affected the image of the country in the overseas market. It will also help in interfering with the cropping cycle of trees thereby reducing projected volumes in subsequent harvests.
“The closure of the season was necessitated by a surveillance that was conducted during the month of September, 2021 in major avocado production agro-ecological zones to ascertain the volumes of avocado fruits that can be exported by either sea or air,” he stated.
The review to open avocado exports will be done on the 15th of January 2022 with allowable off season sizes for varieties of Hass and Fuerte limited to a maximum size code of 22 and 24 respectively.
 Director Benjamin revealed the report){kind=link}