(1.5 minutes read)
· Avocado cultivation has become so lucrative that organised criminal gangs have begun to target growers.
· Kenya is the largest avocado exporter from the continent to the international market by surpassing South Africa.
· local farmers intend to have 24X7 drone surveillance.
Avocado on toast, in a salad, or in a smoothie? There are multiple ways to relish the magical green fruit which is popular with health-conscious people across the globe. A trend which Kenya cashing on now has become the largest exporter from the continent to the international market surpassing South Africa.
In normal circumstances, the biggest threat for any crop is either pests or adverse weather conditions but here in Kenya avocado farmers facing a different type of tribulation, in the past few years, avocado cultivation has become so lucrative that organised criminal gangs have begun to target growers.
Kenya’s avocado trade is still in its infancy, but more and more farmers are deciding to invest in avocados. “In the next five years, I don’t think many people here will have tea farms. Avocados are the way to go”, says a farmer who uprooted his entire tea plantation for avocado cultivation.
Last year, the total production was worth $132m (£100m) from exporting about 10% of the harvested crop, according to the Kenyan trade ministry. With desirable level quality adherence Kenya definitely can attain better production and has the potential to reach the league of big producers like Peru and Brazil.
Vigilante groups are now being formed to protect the crop, which is also known as ‘green gold ‘. At nightfall small groups of people dressed in thick cloths and armed with torches, machetes and clubs start their shift. They have been hired to protect the farm and the precious avocados. Avocados tend to be harvested in Kenya between February and October – but the thieves have been targeting the immature fruit. In an effort to clamp down on the black market, the authorities have imposed a ban on exporting avocados from November until the end of January. But it is having little effect on the ground – in fact, farmers in the county are having to harvest early in order to save their crops from the avocado cartels. Leaving them on the trees is simply an invitation to trouble.
The avocados are assessed to ensure quality at the local distribution center – because if picked too early the fruit will not ripen at all. The decision to pick early was taken only to keep the thieves at bay. But in the future local farmers intends to use drones and computers purchased through the local avocado co-operative society, so that one can have 24X7 surveillance.
