2023-07-24 08:50:00
(Ecofin Agency) – Kenya is the leading exporter of avocados in Africa. In the country, the diversification of outlets beyond the traditional market represented by the European Union (EU) is a priority for an industry whose production is gaining in importance.
In Kenya, the United States Agency for Development (USAID) wants to implement a 22 billion shillings ($155 million) avocado production project in the west of the country. According to information relayed by the local daily Business Daily Africa, the American organization notably plans to supply more than 100,000 seedlings to farmers operating in the region by next November.
According to Robert Mwadime, head of the USAID office in the country, the initiative aims in particular to take advantage of the fruit harvest period in the region, which coincides with the lean season for avocado in producing countries such as Mexico and Peru.
This niche should allow the East African country to place volumes on the American market, which is the world’s leading importer of avocados with 1 million tonnes purchased in 2022, i.e. 45% of the world volume according to FAO data.
“It is difficult for Kenyan avocados to compete in the US market during normal season. We therefore plan to increase the production of avocados in the western counties of Kenya where the harvests begin in the month of January, a period when the main world suppliers are still in the off-season”explains the manager.
In Kenya, the avocado is mainly produced in the central and eastern regions, which concentrate around 70% of the plantations. The harvest in these geographical areas, which begins in April, is currently arriving on the international market at the same time as that of Mexico and Peru, the two main suppliers of the country of Uncle Sam.
Stephanas Assocle
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18/07/2023 – Despite everything, the World Avocado Organization wants to believe in the potential of the Asian market
21/06/2023 – Faced with its surplus avocado production, Kenya is accelerating the diversification of its outlets
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