Starting from November 3, 2023, avocado exports from Kenya for the 2023/2024 fiscal year will be suspended.
The directive comes after Kenya’s Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) ordered a halt on avocado shipments in a bid to ensure that quality produce is marketed locally and internationally.
The measure, announced on October 31, aims to curb the practice of harvesting and exporting immature avocados, which had previously damaged the country’s export market.
According to AFA Director General Willis Audi, this measure is critical for maintaining the integrity of the Kenyan avocado industry and preventing disruptions in the crop cycle.
Audi emphasized the importance of export clearance for air shipments, contingent on inspection by the Directorate, and the requirement of traceability information for all consignments.
“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,” stated AFA Director General Willis Audi.
The DG further clarified that the directive specifically impacts the Hass, Pinkerton, Fuerte, and Jumbo avocado varieties, which are primarily cultivated for export.
“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 November 3, 2023,” Audi said.
The AFA also highlighted that it will continuously monitor avocado maturity trends and patterns and will provide further guidance in mid-January 2024.
Kenya is a prominent avocado producer in Africa, with key export destinations such as The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, France, and Spain.
In September 2023, the country made its first shipment of avocados to India.
“We will continue to seek more markets for our farmers in line with the spirit of our bottom-up economic transformation agenda,” Crops Development Principal Secretary Kello Harsama said during the inaugural event.
