Farmers and traders will start exporting avocados to India from next month, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) confirmed yesterday. 

Managing director Prof Theophilus Mutui stated that the Indian government last week approved Kenya’s request to export avocados, a new move expected to boost Kenya’s plan to expand her share in the international market. 

“We received a communication from the India government dated August 16, 2023 confirming opening of the market by the Asian country. The India government allowed Kenya avocado market access after notifying the World Trade Organisation (WTO) about the same,” he said.

Mutui made remarks in an interview after attending a Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) awareness meeting with captains of industry organised by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) at a Nairobi Hotel.

He lauded the move, saying it shows that export destinations continue to increase and thus help farmers to grow more avocados.

The communication details the conditions Kenya has to meet before the fruits are allowed to access the Asian country market.  Kenya is already exporting avocados to the world’s most populous country, China.

“Kephis has shared the communication details with value chain players and especially farmers groups such as Avocado Society of Kenya (ASK) and Produce Consortium of Kenya,” Mutui explained.

Kenya, he added, is still negotiating with the United States of America, South Korea and Jordan on market access of avocado.   The inaugural export of the avocados will be undertaken through the Kenya High Commission to India in the next two weeks.

Targeted markets

The targeted markets will add on the existing European and Middle-East markets that are currently major destinations for Kenya’s produce and thus cushion the country against stiff competition from Latin America.

In the communication India says Kenya avocados must be fumigated and free of pests. The Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has listed various pests that the Kenya government needs to tame before shipping the fruits.  Farmers under the ASK welcomed the Indian government gesture saying it will help in expanding Kenya’s market share globally.

“We appreciate the gesture as our farmers will now be able to sell their fruits in India. However, we appeal through the Government to negotiate for zero-rating of the export duty currently charged by the Indian Government of 30 per cent. This might deny us the competitiveness our avocados are enjoying in other segments of the global market,” said Ernst Muthomi, the ASK chief executive.  

Kenya is among the top 10 producers of avocado in the world and currently farmers in the country have diversified into avocado farming in the last decade owing to premium prices.