The Agriculture and Meals Authority (AFA) has raised issues over poor strategies used to move avocados from farms to packing homes.
Director of horticultural crops directorate in AFA Benjamin Tito mentioned some consumers are utilizing open pickups to move avocado, one thing which impacts high quality of the fruits.
Talking throughout a sensitization discussion board in Murang’a, Tito defined that AFA has outlined methods to make sure the standard of Kenyan avocados is protected via employment of one of the best ways of transportation.
He noticed that avocados should be effectively packaged in crates and be transported in a well-designed automobile to make sure the standard of fruits is assured.
“Kenya is ranked place one in Africa in relation to manufacturing and exportation of high quality avocados however with poor transportation, we might lose worldwide consumers as a consequence of poor high quality,” mentioned Tito in a assembly, which introduced collectively numerous stakeholders.
Tito mentioned they’ve liaised with regulation enforcers to mount highway blocks and arrest individuals who could be discovered transporting avocados utilizing open pickups.
He defined that in accordance with crops and horticultural rules of 2022, avocados are usually not imagined to be transported in open pickups, urging safety officers to assist to curb the issue.
“As soon as we export poor high quality avocados, we are going to lose higher costs and thus have an effect on farmers’ earnings. We request safety officers to arrest those that are discovered utilizing pickups to move the fruits. Additionally on transportation, the transporters ought to have proof the place they’ve sourced the avocados and this can decrease stealing the fruits from farms,” he additional defined.
Smallholder avocado farmers, Tito famous, have been affected by theft of the fruits from farmers saying the stealing has led to promoting of immature avocados.
“Worldwide consumers are in opposition to immature avocados and as soon as we export them, we’re susceptible to dropping our consumers. Let’s assist us tame this problem,” he added.
Chief Govt Officer (CEO) of Avocado Society of Kenya Ernest Muthomi mentioned the nation is well-known internationally as the most effective producers of high quality avocados.
He mentioned the great repute is presently underneath risk as a consequence of elevated farm theft of avocados and urged all stakeholders to work collectively and cease the menace.
“Farmers are dropping a lot of revenue as a consequence of elevated theft. We’ll work along with safety brokers to guard avocados in farms. All transporters have to be registered and have permits to permit them do the enterprise,” acknowledged Muthomi
Murang’a County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo promised to work with related authorities our bodies to combat theft of avocados and crackdown pickups used to move the fruits.
He mentioned the issue has been raised by farmers within the latest previous and requested all these entrusted to move the fruits to get authorized permits from the related our bodies.
“No pickup shall be allowed to move avocados in Murang’a. Transporters ought to get well-designed automobiles for that work.” he remarked.
Chairman of Avocado Cooperative Union of Murang’a Mr. John Mwaniki Gitau divulged that avocado is turning into a main revenue earner within the nation.
He accused brokers who’re perpetuating stealing of avocados from farms and referred to as for a crackdown of unlawful consumers who’ve opened assortment centres in avocado rising zones.
“The federal government must also regulate harvesting of avocados in order to make sure solely mature fruits get into markets,” he famous.
By Anita Omwenga and Bernard Munyao
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