• In April 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping signed an agreement that would allow the export of frozen avocado.
• The deal required export of frozen avocados at a temperature of between -7 degrees Celsius to -15 degree Celsius. This would help control the fruit fly pest which is common in Kenya.
Image: /ALICE WAITHERA
Kenya can now export fresh avocados to China.
This is in addition to the export of frozen avocado fruits granted market access in 2019.
This follows successful completion of a rigorous Pest Risk Analysis carried out by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) and the National Plant Protection Organization of China.
KEPHIS managing director Theophilus Mutui said the analysis was aimed at identifying quarantine pests of concern to China, which should be controlled before export.
“All the fresh avocado fruits must comply with all applicable Chinese phytosanitary (plant health) laws and regulations, health and safety standards. The produce should also be free from any quarantine pests of concern to China,” he said in a statement sent on Friday.
In April 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping signed an agreement that allowed the export of frozen avocado.
The deal required export of frozen avocados at a temperature of between minus 7 degrees to -15 degree .
This would help control the fruit fly pest which is common in Kenya.
But by 2021, Kenya’s export market of frozen avocados to China was yet to pick.
Benjamin Tito, director, Horticulture Crops Directorate under the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) told the Star in an interview that this was because most exporters have been unable to meet the stringent requirement to enjoy the market.
He said by 2020, Kenya was only able to ship a single container of 20-foot tonnes of ripe frozen avocados against a big potential.
"Once harvested, one is supposed to remove the outer cover and seed so you are left with the avocado itself. It is this part that is required to be packed and shipped and get to the China market at this temperature. Failure to this, the fruit will turn brown and this will compromise on quality,” he said.
“By the end of that year, only one out of 100 firms had met the export requirements set by the Chinese government,” he added.
Mutui said all producers and exporters intending to export fresh avocado to China must have all their production farms, packhouses and fumigation treatment facilities registered by KEPHIS.
Further, they are required to apply Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and keep good sanitary conditions as well as implement Integrated Pest Management programs, including pest monitoring, chemical and biological control and any other pest control operations.
“KEPHIS shall carry out periodic field inspection, monitor and manage quarantine pests of concern to Chin, keep monitoring records of quarantine pests as well as pest management measures implemented,” said the MD.
This is in addition to carrying out phytosanitary treatment of the fresh avocado fruits by fumigation before export, and ensuring all consignments are inspected prior to export.
"KEPHIS will monitor the processing, packaging, storage and transportation of the fruits,” said Mutui.