Avocado farmers across the country have been urged to harvest mature fruits to help boost the international market of the product.
Addressing farmers at Kaguru in Imenti South, the Avocado Society of Kenya CEO Earnest Muthomi said Kenyan avocado market has greatly been affected by low quality produce caused by immature harvest
"Kenyan avocado is very marketable. In fact, there is a high demand of it globally but some unscrupulous traders are misleading the farmers to harvest low-quality fruits which do not meet the recommended 'dry-matter' content thus causing the fruits to get rejected by international countries," Muthomi said.
He added that the country earns about Ksh15billion annually from the fruit export calling on the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) to ensure no immature fruits are allowed to be exported to curb ruining the country's market.
He also revealed that Kenya will hold the first Avocado Grand International Africa Congress next month in a bid to strengthen market ties with different international countries.
"We will hold the first historical congress in Kenya to sensitize farmers on how to produce high-quality fruits, marketing challenges and how to strengthen trade with different countries," he said.
Muthomi further cautioned farmers against selling the fruits to unauthorized agencies or companies which he blamed for luring the farmers into harvesting immature fruits which they buy at a compromised price.
"HCD needs to ensure the laws governing the crop are adhered to because there are some companies that are still exporting avocadoes with high moisture content by corrupting some officers. This is posing a great threat to the market because they get rejected," Muthomi noted.
He however called on Kenyans to invest in avocado farming.
"Kenyans should invest in avocado farming. It's a lucrative business,' he added.
