Kenya to suspend avocado, macadamia nuts exports

NAIROBI, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) — Kenya would suspend the export of avocados and macadamia nuts to prevent undesired produce from entering the market, authorities announced on Tuesday.
Andrew Karanja, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said in a statement released in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, that the ban on macadamia exports and harvests would start from Nov. 2, 2024 to March 1, 2025.
“Dealers must submit their current stock for inspection, verification, and clearance by Nov. 15,” Karanja said.
He added that harvesting, processing and export of immature macadamia nuts lead to poor performance of the produce from Kenya in the global market.
To ensure farmers are not exploited during the period, Karanja said the government would introduce a minimum guarantee price on the produce sold in the local market.
Bruno Linyiru, director general of the Agriculture Food Authority (AFA), said that the suspension of avocado exports would help sustain and grow Kenya’s international market, and minimize interruption of the crop cycle occasioned by harvesting of immature fruits.
He noted that while the AFA would allow the export of small quantities of fruits by air, shipment by sea would not be allowed, with the suspension to take effect from Oct. 25.
He said that the AFA would continue to monitor avocado maturity trends and review the suspension in the first week of December.
Linyiru warned exporters against mixing avocados and mangoes to make up for the shortage of the former during the period.
Kenya mainly exports the bulk of the nuts and fruits to the Middle East and Europe as well as China. Avocados are the major fruit export. ■