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Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has arrested four lorries carrying immature avocados to Tanzania, exposing a tight syndicate of local fresh produce exporters smuggling the fruits to neighbouring countries despite the government’s ban.

AFA-Horticulture and Crops Directorate (HCD) confiscated 32 tonnes of avocados that were in the process of being illegally exported to Tanzania.

The Directorate’s Acting Deputy Director in charge of Regulation and Compliance Collins Otieno said the consignment was being moved via road from Kenya to Tanzania to facilitate export to other destinations.

“We managed to seize the vehicles full of immature avocados destined to our neighbouring country.  The fruits are packaged in gunnery and polythene bags which are contrary to the regulations,” he said.

Immature fruits

“Currently, we are yet to resume harvesting of our avocado after suspending the same on November 3, 2023. We have been carrying out a survey for the last week in all the growing counties to ascertain the maturity and estimated quantities,” added Otieno.

He stated that in the recent past there have been complaints that some traders have been transporting immature fruits to Tanzania despite the suspension of shipments.  Those involved in illegal export of immature avocados risk various penalties, including cancellation of their licenses.  Some traders are said to have been exporting avocados through Tanzania which enjoys tax exemptions due to its categorisation as a least developed country unlike produce shipped as Kenyan harvest that face import duty in some countries.

The vehicles (pictured) carrying the fruits stored in polythene and gunny bags were intercepted at Namanga border of Kenya and Tanzania by AFA security officials on Thursday evening.

Addressing media at Namanga after verifying the lorries, Otieno claimed that there are unscrupulous traders working with brokers on the ground who are cheating farmers to harvest immature fruits.  –