A Kenyan who made Ksh4 Million in two years selling avocadoes revealed her secret through an interview with China Daily on Thursday, February 2.
Joyce Kamau who hails from Murang’a County in Kenya ventured into avocado farming in 2018.
However, the business was characterized by hits and misses until her fortunes changed in 2021.
“I started farming in 2018 but it took 2.5 years for the avocadoes to reach full maturity making my first harvest in 2020.
“I did not make a lot of money from my first harvest due to the tough economic situation that was brought by the pandemic,” she highlighted.
Joyce further revealed that her fortunes changed in August 2021 when she started exporting her avocadoes to China.
This was after Kenya and China reached agreements on phytosanitary standards that allowed Kenya to start exporting avocados to China.
To enhance her bargaining power in the international market, Joyce joined the Avocado Society of Kenya (ASK).
On why farmers should join ASK, she explains that it is through the membership that local companies exporting avocadoes to China get to buy your produce.
"As a farmer, I do not individually export my avocados to China, but I have supplied exporters who sell to the Chinese market.
“They offer good prices which have made me be able to make Ksh2 million in a year,” she revealed the secret of her success.
Newton Maina who is the Sales and Marketing manager of the Avocado Society of Kenya revealed that Kenya exported Ksh6.7 billion worth of both fresh and frozen avocados to China in 2022.
“In 2023, we expect that the figure will double since we will start shipping from the beginning of the season on March 2023 onwards,” he revealed.
According to Trading Economics, Kenya is currently the third world’s largest producer of avocado behind Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Avocado is also Kenya’s top export fruit with Murang’a County where Joyce hails from being the country’s largest producer.
