Kenya: Traders get two weeks to export avocado in off-season period

The Horticulture Directorate has opened a two-week window for the export of off-season mature avocados following the closure of exports in November last year. The move is to allow farmers and orchards that have mature avocados to export the fruits within the issued time frame. Head of the directorate Benjamin Tito said the survey conducted in the first week of January showed that there is at least 10-35 percent of mature avocado in the east of Rift and 10-30 percent in the west of Rift, which needs to be exported. “The survey found that there was some off-season mature avocado in the east and west of the Rift that needed to be harvested,” said Mr Tito. The window will start on January 23 and run up to February 6 with the export for Fuerte, Hass, Jumbo and Pinkerton varieties expected to be done by sea only. Read: North Rift farmers make Sh100m from avocados The main season for the export of avocado starts on March 15 this year, and this has compelled the regulator to offer relief ...