Kenya has in the last one year been able to secure avocado market in China, Malyasi and India.
This is owing to the stringent phytosanitary measures put in place by the Kenya Health Plant Inspectorate Services.
Theopellus Mutui, Kephis managing director said Kenya has secured markets in China, Malaysia and India this year.
In March, Kenya exported the first batch of 20,000 tonnes of avocado to China.
This is owing to the stringent phytosanitary measures that have been put to ensure that avocado fruit are free from diseases.
He spoke during the opening of the fourth International Phytosanitary Conference being held at Kephis headquarters.
The three-day conference is being hosted by Kephis in partnership with the National Plant Protection Organisation under the International Plant Protection Convention.
Kephis indicates that sanitary and phytosanitary measures are quarantine and biosecurity measures which are applied to protect human, animal or plant life.
In addition to health from risks arising from the introduction, establishment and spread of pests and diseases and from risks arising from additives, toxins and contaminants in food and feed.
“We were able to secure China market last year. This year we have opened for Malaysia, and last Saturday we flagged off the first inaugural avocado to India. These are very exciting moments for our country,” he said.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Kello Harsama said trade in food is sensitive and guided by high standards, hence the need to adhere to food standards and food security measures.
The PS confirmed that there have been concerns over Kenya’s export produce being rejected in some international markets due to exceeding maximum residual levels caused by pesticides applied.
MRL is the highest level of a pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in or on food or feed when pesticides are applied correctly (Good Agricultural Practice), according to the European Commission on food safety.
Harsama was quick to add that the government has put in place measures to adhere to the strict international market standards that guide fresh produce trade.
“To ensure we meet these guidelines, the government has supported our regulatory agencies like Kephis, Agriculture and Food Authority and the Kenya Bureau of Standards and all other regulatory agencies to be very strict in farms where export commodities are produced," he said.
"This also includes at the airports where they are exported so that we do not have export produce with traces of MRLs which we know will be rejected in Europe.
“I want to assure the world that our food is safe now. We have adhered to all the standards and the health regulatory measures and they are safe for consumption."
The PS added that the government is expanding the regulatory framework such as the Food Safety Bill, which is currently in Parliament.
“The Bill seeks to guide food standards and safety in the country. In addition, regular training to farmers on food standards will continue to be enhanced,” the PS said.
Mutui said the International Phytosanitary conference has brought players in plant health from all over the world to discuss the current issues and trends, and also to prevent introduction of new and foreign pests.
“If by bad luck they are introduced, they should not establish. We are looking as if the pests establish, how fast we can respond to their management,” he said.
The risk of introduction of pests to Kenya during trade is compounded by globalisation and trade liberalisation.
This, Mutui said, has led to increased movement of goods and people across the world and aggregated the probability of introduction of plant pests.
“Recent introductions of pests such as the Maize Lethal Necrotic Disease, Tuta absoluta, Cassava brown streak disease, and Fall Army Worm and re-emergence of pests such as Desert locust have warranted the need for emergency registration and considerable resource allocation from Government for their official management,” he said.
Mutui said that phytosanitary measures are the foundation of our mandates as National Plant Protection Organisations and provide the means for protection of plants and plant resources from introduction, spread and establishment of foreign pests and diseases.