Kenya makes history with Avocado shipment to China

Kenya has exported its first consignment of avocados to China. 

With the exports, flagged off by Industrialization Cabinet Administrative Secretary David Osiany yesterday, Kenya became  the first African country to export fresh Avocados to China.

The country is now the 6th globally to access this lucrative market.

A single avocado fetches as much as KSh120 in China, meaning that Kenyan farmers are in for good returns.

Though Kenya harvests about 240,000 tonnes of avocado every year, only 85 tonnes is exported due to existing high international standards on hygiene and safety. 

The China market was opened up for Kenyan farmers in 2019, following a visit by President Uhuru Kenyatta to the East Asian country. There have been several hurdles along the way though, with Beijing insisting that Kenya could export only frozen avocados. 

In January this year, China relaxed this requirement, paving the way for exportation of  fresh avocados from Kenya. 

The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (Kephis) says the Chinese National Plant Protection Organisation has approved 15 orchards, nine pack-houses and one fumigation facility to export fresh avocado to China.