Kenya warns avocado, macadamia farmers against premature harvesting
The warning comes as Kenya’s avocado sector faces mounting pressure to protect its foothold in European markets.
KENYA – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has warned avocado and macadamia farmers against harvesting before full maturity, saying substandard produce risks damaging Kenya’s export reputation.
Kagwe’s warning reflects broader concerns in the sector, where premature harvesting has led to repeated export rejections and tighter controls in recent seasons, the ministry said.
Produce that fails to meet export standards, he said, weakens Kenya’s standing abroad and reduces the returns farmers can expect from international buyers.
The warning comes as Kenya’s avocado sector faces mounting pressure to protect its foothold in European markets. Kenya’s avocado output rose 34% to 848,122 tons in 2024, valued at Sh29.5 billion (US$228 million), according to data from the Agriculture and Food Authority.
Meanwhile, exports totaled approximately 119.8 million kg, valued at Sh22.27 billion (US$172 million) in 2024. However, exporters have reported difficulty sourcing enough export-grade fruit.
For instance, Grade One Hass in size codes 12 to 24 is selling for Sh85 to Sh100 (US$0.66 to US$0.77) per kg. The quality gap between total production and export-ready fruit remains a central challenge for the sector.
Alongside the warning, Kagwe outlined government support measures to help farmers meet quality requirements. These include access to improved planting material, stronger agricultural extension services, and assistance with produce aggregation and certification.
He also said the government wants processing to occur within the counties where crops are grown, rather than transporting raw or semi-processed produce elsewhere before value is added. The strategy aims to localize crop processing and increase export value.
On market access, Kagwe argues that farmers who sell quality produce through organized markets earn considerably more than those who sell early through middlemen. He frames reform of the farm-to-market route as a central objective of the government’s current agricultural agenda.
The government’s broader strategy also includes measures to support macadamia producers, who face similar quality and market-access constraints. Industry stakeholders have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of maturity standards to protect Kenya’s reputation as a reliable supplier of premium produce.
Ultimately, these reforms aim to stabilize the agricultural sector and secure long-term economic benefits for Kenyan producers, with enhanced technical support and improved planting materials serving as tools to ensure that produce meets international quality standards.
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