Kenya will give priority to avocado exports to China, China Daily reported.Since Kenya exported 68,000 tons of avocados worth $128 million to China between January and October, Kenya hopes to increase its export earnings from the product.
Benjamin Tito, head of Kenya's horticultural board, said in a speech in the capital Nairobi on November 9 that avocados exported to China bring high returns to Kenya, and they are transported through the cold chain, so their prices are higher. Tito said China is expected to become the largest importer of avocado in Kenya due to its large population. "We have received positive feedback from consumers in the Chinese market, so local manufacturers in Kenya are ready to offer more products." In order to meet the demand expectations of Chinese consumers, avocado growing areas have expanded from central Kenya to other regions, such as the western region, he said.
Hosea machuki, head of Kenya's fresh fruit and vegetable export association, said avocado brings foreign exchange income to the country and accounts for a fifth of horticultural exports. Machuki noted that by the end of October 2020, Kenya had exported 68000 tons of avocado. "The key driver of the increase in avocado exports is that farmers outside the traditional growing areas grow the fruit on expanded land." He noted that Kenya has become one of the largest avocado producers in the world, thanks to the huge potential of small and large farmers to expand avocado production. Machuki said Kenya's avocados grow naturally in the most ideal environment in the world, the equator, so they need little protection. They grow and produce almost organically. Machuki noted that 70% of avocado production is provided by small farmers, with five to 20 avocados grown on each farm, 20% from medium-sized farmers and the rest by large farms.