Kenya recently announced plans to export avocado to China as a priority, China Daily reported. It is reported that from January to October this year, Kenya exported 68000 tons of avocado, bringing in 128 million US dollars (about 845 million yuan) of income.
Benjamin Tito, chief executive officer of Kenya horticulture Bureau, said that Kenya's avocado exports to China need to go through frozen transportation, thus adding value to the products and bringing high returns to Kenya. "China has a large population, so it has the ability to be the largest importer of avocado," he said. "Our products have received positive feedback from consumers in this market. As a result, manufacturers are preparing to increase shipments. "
According to Hosea machuki, chief executive officer of Kenya's fresh fruit and vegetable Exporters Association, avocados earn foreign exchange earnings for the country, accounting for about a fifth of horticultural exports. "The main driving force of the increase in avocado exports is the expansion of planting area, and farmers outside the traditional planting areas are also enthusiastic about planting the fruit."
He pointed out that Kenya has great potential in expanding avocado production and is now one of the largest producers in the world. "Our avocados are grown in the most ideal equatorial region in the world to grow avocados. As a result, they grow naturally, with little need for external protection, and most are grown and produced organically, "machuki said.
He points out that about 70 per cent of the fruit is grown by small farmers, each with between five and 20 trees; About 20 per cent comes from medium-sized farmers and the rest from commercial plantations.