More and more Kenyans are planting avocados in their fields, even at the cost of abandoning their traditional coffee or tea crops, as European demand for this product is strong.
"When the avocado market skyrocketed, we thought it was more interesting to plant these trees. That's how I started," stated Sumon Kimani while pointing to the first trees he planted, less than 10 years ago. Currently Kimani has two hectares of this species.
Simon Kimani, 73, and his two young employees collect the green avocados with machetes. The fruits will finish ripening during their long journey to Europe. Simon is part of a group of farmers who sell their avocados to the Fair Trade Company Limited.
Since being hired by this company, in 2015, Bernard Kimutai noted that there was a sharp increase in the production of Hass avocados, a highly coveted variety in Europe. "In 2016 we exported 20 tons and in 2017, 40 tons", he said.
"More money and less work"
Each year, Simon Kimani collects up to seven tons of this fashionable fruit, which he sells for 50 shillings (i.e. 0.43 euro or 0.5 dollars) per kilo, that is, about four avocados, to the Fair Trade Company Limited; which in turn, exports them, mainly to Spain and the Netherlands.
In European supermarkets, the Kenyan avocados, which cost around one euro per unit, are sold next to the avocados from Chile, Mexico, and Israel.
"100% of the avocados are destined for export. We try to improve our production quality so that 90% of the farmers' production is exportable and the remaining 10% goes to oil producers," Bernard Kimutai, who plans to open an avocado oil factory, stated.
The health factor
The Kenyan government believes that the avocado market is expanding and could benefit many young entrepreneurs. Kenya is the world's sixth biggest avocado exporter and the biggest avocado exporter in Africa, with 3% of the market share. In 2015 the country exported 15 thousand tons and in 2017 it exported 63 thousand tons in 2017.
"The demand increases, especially in rich countries, where health is an important factor," stated Bernard Kimutai, who celebrates that this has allowed him to have orders throughout the season.
Source: AFP