The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has dismissed claims that it has suspended the export of fresh avocados.
In a statement on Monday, July 7, the Food Authority termed the information, which was widely circulated among horticulture stakeholders, as misleading.
The clarification followed a meeting held on Wednesday, June 25, in which avocado stakeholders discussed the challenges and prospects of enhancing the fruit's production.
The discussions were to ensure that all avocados that are sold locally or exported are processed for oil, to reduce post-harvest losses among the farmers.
It was after the meeting that misleading information began circulating, raising concern among the farmers who demanded the government's clarification.
According to the Agriculture and Food Authority, the false notice claimed that during the June 25 meeting, a proposal to ban the export of fresh avocados was discussed.
"We note with great concern that misleading information is being circulated among the horticulture industry stakeholders and members of the public, that during the meeting, a proposal to ban the export of fresh avocado was discussed, which is not true," the Authority clarified.
While dismissing the fake reports, the Authority assured farmers that the country would continue to export fresh avocados also also enhance avocado export volumes and destinations.
The Authority further revealed that it was also working jointly with counties to increase avocado production at the farm level, to ensure a sufficient supply for both fresh export and Avocado oil production.
Currently, Kenya is a leading producer of avocados in Africa and among the top six fresh avocado exporting countries globally. In 2024, Kenya exported 119,801,078 Metric Tons of avocados valued at Ksh22.27 billion.
Meanwhile, clarification comes barely nine months after the government suspended the export of certain avocado varieties to prevent the harvesting of immature fruits.
During a presser in October last year, the Food Authority Director General, Bruno Linyiru, directed avocado farmers to immediately stop harvesting Hass, Pinkerton, Fuerte, and Jumbo varieties.
However, the suspension was lifted in February this year, after the government established an improvement in the maturity of several avocado varieties in major production zones.
