In response to conflicts between avocado farmers in Murang'a County and Kenya Revenue Authority officials regarding the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System mandated by the Finance Act 2023, Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has initiated a task force. This collective aims to resolve prevailing issues within the avocado subsector, bringing together stakeholders including farmers, aggregators, exporters, processors, and officials from various ministries. The task force's objective is to generate actionable recommendations within 30 days to prevent disruptions in the subsector's operations.
Jeremiah Ng'ang'a, a prominent avocado farmer and chairman of the Kenya Avocado Farmers Association, highlighted the economic potential of avocado farming, which, he claims, is hampered by the dominance of middlemen and low producer prices. Despite the global increase in demand and potential for export growth, farmers struggle to reap full benefits due to these challenges. Ng'ang'a's personal success in expanding his avocado orchard underscores the sector's potential, marred by the adverse effects of market intermediaries on farmer earnings.
Source: the-star.co.ke