We'll address your concerns - Gachagua assures avocado farmers

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has promised to address issues facing avocado farmers to enable them to reap the best earnings.

Gachagua said a taskforce will be formed to look deeply into issues affecting the avocado subsector to make it more lucrative to the farmers.

He said the Government is working on pertinent interventions to safeguard the multibillion-shilling sector following farmers’ disquiet over the imposition of new levies.

The DP said deliberations are ongoing on the review of a legal provision in the Finance Act 2023 spelling new taxes on avocado and horticultural farming after farmers rejected it.

“I have called a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) with the Cabinet Secretaries for National Treasury and Agriculture, representatives of the fruit farmers, exporters and aggregators and the Kenya Revenue Authority so we can agree on the way forward in the implementation of the clause in the Act. We are a listening Government and we value consultations,” he said.

Gachagua made the remarks on Tuesday when he hosted avocado Stakeholders for a consultative meeting at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi.

He said the Members of Parliament had been made aware of the offensive clause.

“Discussions on the Finance Bill are ongoing and amendments will be made to reflect the reality of the sector. Members of Parliament will do their part,” the DP added.

The Deputy President said the taskforce will be tasked with coming up with far-reaching remedies to the issues bedevilling the sub-sector.

He noted that members of the taskforce will include fruit farmers, exporters, aggregators, marketers, exporters, ship line operators and government officials drawn from relevant ministries and departments.

“The taskforce will work in earnest and come up with remedies in 30 days so that we agree on what needs to be done. As an administration we are ready to engage with stakeholders and ensure farmers are happy,” assured the Deputy President.

The Managing Director of Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) Christine Chesaro, told the forum that foreign income from avocado exports is on the rise.

She said the value of the exports was Sh19 billion in 2023 up from Sh15 billion in 2022.

“Despite the challenges we are making progress. Murang'a is leading in production followed by Nakuru. We are at position six in global exports. However, we need to increase production to have sufficient volumes to export throughout the season,” she said.

The farmers and exporters said that avocado farming is a lucrative business but the sub-sector was facing myriad challenges including post-harvest management, marketing, low pricing, lack of traceability mechanism and access to the global market.

Cabinet Secretaries Simon Chelugui (Cooperatives and SMEs) and Rebecca Miano (Trade) together with Principal Secretary State Department for Crops Development, Paul Ronoh were present.

MPs Mary Wamaua (Maragua), Wakili Edward Muriu (Gatanga), Kamau Munyoro (Kigumo), Chege Njuguna (Kandara), Chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Livestock John Mutunga (Tigania West MP) and Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango, who is also Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, were also present.