Kenyans are avid eaters of avocados, one of the most sought after fruits in the market as it is an accompaniment for any meal.
The international market shares the same love for the fruit. In 2020, Kenya was ranked top in Africa and eighth worldwide in avocado exports.
69 metric tonnes of avocado exports generated Ksh14.8 billion in revenue which has attracted more farmers to farm the fruit.
However, not all species fetch top dollar and the farmers are now gravitating towards the Hass Avocado.
Named after Rudolph Hass, the man who first planted the fruit, it is characterized by its dark colour and bumpy skin and is said to have better quality .
It has a higher demand compared to ordinary avocados owing to its high-fat content, which makes it creamier and buttery thus more valuable. Farmers who switched to the new species noted that it produces more yield than others.
"The tree produces more yield because I now harvest twice a year and the quality is better. Per plant, I get 120 kilogrammes in a season compared to 80 previously," Mwadime, a farmer in Taita Taveta stated.
He added that the plant takes a shorter time to produce fruit and has a long shelf life. This notwithstanding, Moses Karonjo, an agronomist, explained that the produce is still subjected to quality checks before they are accepted for export.
"Fruits that make it for export are those that have to fully mature and ripe to the required standard. They also need to be able to stay 14 days without going bad and should not have any blemish," he remarked.
The influx in farmers joining the multi-billion avocado-growing industry has also attracted unscrupulous agents who seek to maximize profits at all costs at the expense of the fruit's quality.
In a bid to further reduce the time taken for the fruits to mature, a section of farmers have resulted into grafting - an agricultural technique in which two separate plants are interconnected either on the roots or stem to grow as one.
As a result, the government instituted a three-month ban beginning January 2022 on the export of the Hass and Fuerte varieties to curb cases of exporting immature fruits. The ban would ensure only top-quality yield was shipped to foreign markets.
Farmers and traders will also have to comply with new rules such as not transporting avocados on open pickups and trucks. The fruits will now be carried in washable crates so that they are transported in a hygienic way.
