North America Edition
Avocado farmers from Murang’a are suffering heavily as thieves continue to raid their farms. Led by Murang’a Avocado Farmers’ Co-operative Union chairperson John Mwaniki, the farmers said the theft may end up hampering the sector enormously.
Murang’a is the largest producer of avocados in the country, with Kenya being the sixth largest producer in the African continent. Mwaniki said from June last year to July this year, the union managed to export 258 tons of avocados, for revenues of Sh22 million (€185,000). The union had hoped to produce about 400 tons in the same period, but this fell short, largely due to farm-gate theft.
He said Murang’a makes an average of Sh4 billion from avocados annually and that the revenue can grow to up to Sh6 billion if the many challenges are resolved. He said some of the thieves are so bold and enter farms during day-light, and even force farmers to help them harvest and transport the fruits to their waiting vehicles.
In June this year, the county assembly amended Murang’a County Avocado Bill 2019 to regulate the sector against theft and export of sub-standard and unripe avocado fruits. The new bill now requires farmers to issue authentic receipts to buyers at the point of sale to allow for traceability of fruit any person or vehicle found transporting avocado fruits without a receipt arrested.
[ Sh100 = €0.84 ]
Source: the-star.co.ke
