International Market Prices of Kenyan Avocado
The profitability of avocado farming in Kenya continues to remain high as export prices of the country’s hass and Fuerte avocados continue soaring internationally. To understand how the international avocado market is in terms of demand and supply, you can read this article: Demand For Kenyan Avocado Continues to Climb: The Issue Right Now Is Providing Continuous Supply
According to a Bloomberg report published on 9th June 2022, this year's avocado prices reached the highest ever recorded price with a 9Kg box going for $51 (approximately Ksh6,000).
Kenya, which is now the 8th largest avocado producer in the world, has continued to experience an increase in avocado production but the increasing demand for avocado fresh fruit and other products is much higher than the increasing production.
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| Hass avocado farming in Kenya: A farm in Kajiado |
Why buyers prefer the Kenyan avocado
Avocados from Kenya are grown naturally, right
on the equator, in the most ideal conditions. They are organically grown, with
most farmers using compost and animal manure to fertilize their orchard hence
requiring little crop protection. The equatorial climate allows avocado
production to last throughout the year, with the peak seasons starting in February
and extending to October. This grants the Kenyan avocados a competitive
advantage over the other exporting countries in the global market.
In fact, the hass avocados from Kenya sell in the European markets at approximately three times the domestic price, thus making the exporting options very attractive. This is because the avocados from Kenya actually taste better than other avocados from other countries, including Peru and Mexico. If avocado farming would be professionally done in Kenya, it would definitely be the country’s success story.
Protecting the avocado market in Kenya
However, this rampant rise in the export prices
has sometimes resulted in farmers picking young and immature fruits so as to
take advantage of the current high prices. Unfortunately, some farmers fail to
stick to the necessary quality standards required, which risks the whole Kenyan
avocado export being rejected in the global market. As such, the horticulture
regulator puts on hold the export of hass and the Fuertes avocados from around October
to March every year, so as to give the fruits ample time to reach full term
maturity. In the article
Things to Consider when Farming avocados for export
- Uniformity in the shape and fruit size is one of the requirements needed for the fruit to be successfully considered for export. The only way to achieve this specific shapes and sizes is solely achieved through consistent irrigation of the crops. This often requires an all-year-round irrigation system, where drip irrigation is recommended. Contact Richfarm Kenya on 0724698357 for the installation of automated drip irrigation systems.
- Another key requirement to observe if you want to export your hass or Fuerte avocados from Kenya is the maximum amount of chemical residue in the fruits. Organic fruits have always fetched a high price in the market. Consequently, the fruits that fail to meet the stringent conditions in line with chemical use are blocked from the market. It has always been the belief and practice of Richfarm Kenya that organic farming is the way forward in achieving consistent and sustainable food security. As discussed earlier, the equatorial climate in Kenya makes it possible for the fruits to be grown without excessive use of chemicals for the pests and diseases management.
- In order for the fruits to be acceptable in the global market, a farmer needs to be certified. That sounds a little complicated but it actually isn’t. The exporting company that you choose should be able to help you get the certification. While having the best quality fruits gets you at the door of the export business, having the right kind of partnerships and links is the utmost game changer.
- Fruit Maturity: Only harvest your hass avocados when they are mature. It is sad that there are some farmers and buyers who have been harvesting immature hass avocado and taking them to the world market. This has the potential to ruin Kenya's reputation in the global avocado market. We explained this issue in detail in this article: Avocado Farming Business in Kenya Under Threat.
Please also read:
Avocado exporters in Kenya
When one intends to get rid of the brokers and
export directly to the international markets, a solid financial partner,
experienced body of staff which helps in ensuring the fruits comply with the
set standards and a committed logistics company will help you export
successfully. Getting in a partnership with Richfarm Kenya will help you
outsource all the necessary partnerships, so as to make sure the transition
from post harvesting to linking up with the right market is successful.
For
most of the farmers, choosing to directly export their produce on their own may
prove a bit elusive. Signing into contract farming with a certified export
company will help the farmer maneuver more easily. It is also easier since the
export company will provide all the necessary production skills, all the way
into sorting and grading of the fruits. While looking for the perfect export partner, the farmer should be careful not to fall prey of
the booming mushrooming briefcase exporters, who trap the small scale farmers
by cashing in on the rush from the avocado farming.
Below is a list of avocado exporters that you can work with in Kenya
- Direne Packaging
- Kenya Fresh Produce Exporters Limited
- Kakuzi Limited
- Keit Exporters limited
- Mofarm Fresh Fruits Exporters Limited
- Kenyan Exports
- Bio Farm
- Interveg Exports Limited
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