- FAO indicates that Kenya has doubled its avocado production over the past five years, and is now the world’s sixth-largest avocado producer.
- Kenya surpassed South Africa in 2021 to become the continent’s largest exporter of avocados.
Image: ALICE WAITHERA
Kenya is set to host the second International Africa Avocado Congress this month.
The congress to be hosted by the Avocado Society of Kenya will be held at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi from May 31 to June 2 this year under the theme, ‘Growing Avocados Sustainably’.
Ernest Muthomi, the chief executive officer of the Avocado Society of Kenya, said the event is expected to attract thousands of avocado growers, exporters and stakeholders from Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
He said the Avocado Africa 2023 event will be the second largest convergence of stakeholders in the avocado sector in the world this year.
“This event comes after the World Avocado Congress, which took place earlier this year in New Zealand and thus will further the avocado dialogue. This will be a platform for stimulating trade, innovations, technology and knowledge transfer,” he said.
“It will also allow participants to be part of the matchmaking through the avomatch platform and to learn about the disruptive production models that are developing more sustainable and profitable crops and value chains.”
This year the IAAC seeks to bring together 5,000 participants and more than 300 exhibitors.
The CEO said that East Africa is set to be a major avocado frontier in the next few years.
“The congress seeks to showcase new products and services, increase brand recognition in the international arena, reach a wide target audience faster and expand international customer potential,” Muthomi said.
He said that the event is open to everyone who has something to contribute particularly for the vibrant yet nascent avocado sector.
According to the Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030 report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, avocados will become the most traded fruit by 2030.
The report showed that avocado has the lowest production rate among tropical fruit, but has seen the fastest production growth in recent years and is expected to remain the fastest growing major tropical fruit in 2021-2023.
Avocado production is projected to reach 12 million tonnes by 2030, which will be triple the production achieved in 2010.
FAO indicates that Kenya has doubled its avocado production over the past five years, and is now the world’s sixth-largest avocado producer, with a planted area of nearly 26,000 ha and a production of 417 000 metric tonnes in 2021. This is double that of 2016.
Kenya surpassed South Africa in 2021 to become the continent’s largest exporter of avocados, even as it accounts for 82 per cent of the East African Community avocado fruit exports.
The UN agency shows that the sector is still dominated by small-scale farmers owning less than two hectares who produce about 70 per cent of all Kenyan avocados.
About 95, 000 tonnes, which is 23 per cent production, is exported to the European Union, in particular the Netherlands, France, Spain, the UK, and Germany.
Data from the Horticulture Crops Directorate under the Agriculture and Food Authority shows that avocado exports rose from 66 million tonnes in 2018 to 86 million tonnes in 2021. In 2022, Kenya’s avocado export value was estimated at $15.15 billion.
HCD further indicated that Kenya’s exports of avocado to China hit Sh7 billion in three months to October 2022, exceeding the earnings that were realised in the first seven months of the year.