The Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, has revealed that the government is planning to establish a special Agriculture Police Unit in its effort to curb the rising cases of avocado theft in the country.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the Avocado Subsector on Monday, April 7, the CS said that the new unit will be tasked with protecting farmers' produce both on the farms and after harvest.
Kagwe asserted that the elimination of unlawful activities in the agriculture sector will be fundamental in ensuring that the efforts of farmers bear fruit and their livelihoods are protected.
“To protect the livelihoods of our farmers, we must ensure that their hard work is not lost to unlawful activity," he said.
"The Agriculture Police will help secure farms and maintain order across the value chain,” he added.
The CS has further urged avocado farmers across the country to form cooperatives, which will help them avert rogue brokers and reinforce their bargaining power to enable them to get better prices for their produce.
"The recommendations are geared towards strengthening the avocado subsector by increasing productivity, securing incomes, and promoting fair trade practices," he said.
The announcement comes a month after the ministry, in a statement on March 11, gave a green light to the harvesting of Hass avocados for export, months after the government had declared the variety not ready for harvest.
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) suspended the harvesting of avocados for export by sea on October 25, 2024, citing that the fruits were not yet ready for export.
Upon surveying in January 2025, the authority determined that the Hass variety was still not ready for harvest, unlike other varieties, such as the Fuerte and Pinkerton, which had already reached maturity and were ready for harvest and export by then.
"The avocado harvest and export by sea season was suspended with effect from 25th October 2024. The Authority undertook a survey in January 2025 and found that the Hass variety was still immature, but the Fuerte and Pinkerton varieties had reached the desired maturity and had adequate volumes for export by sea shipment. Consequently, the Authority opened Fuerte and Pinkerton harvesting for sea shipment with effect from 7th February 2025," it stated.
"The harvesting of avocados (Hass variety) for export by sea shipment will come into force with effect from 17 March 2025. Export clearance for Hass shall then be granted subject to packhouse inspection only," it added.
