The Mountain Journal
Licensing of the avocado dealers is at risk if they will be found flouting rules and regulations imposed by the government designed to enhance quality.
The exporters have expressed concerns to the Avocado Agent’s Association to ensure their members transport the commodity in plastic crates and full compliance of the law, to save them the wrath of the Agriculture Food Authority (AFA).
In a meeting attended by the Kenya Avocado Exporters, Marketing agents, Agriculture Food Authority (AFA), it was resolved that all must adhere to the standards set in the value chain.
The meeting was held amid concern after an agent not licensed by Horticulture Crops Directorate (HCD) was a week ago caught transporting the produce to the JKIA without covering the produce as per the regulations.
The action caused tension in the sector after nine containers of exporters were blocked from leaving a warehouse in Mombasa for shipment.
Avocado export earns the country in excess of Sh19 billion per year.
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Chairman of the avocado exporters’ Samson Murithi Wakibia said the operations of the exporters was at risk as the regulators if any of his agents will be caught contravening the regulations.
Mr Wakibia said the agents must ensure any supply to the exporters will be in crates, and in covered vehicles.
“There is a risk in the hands of the exporters as the regulator will follow the defaulting agents and establish the destination of the produce,” said Wakibia.
Regulator’s officials David Makori and Collins Otieno said there was need for all the players in the value chain to remain observant to guard the quality or face withdrawal of the license.
Makoli said there was a team of enforcement monitoring the operations in the value chain and more interested in the transportation of the fruits.
“The regulations call for use of crate in the transportation as the prime requirement. The agents must also be licensed and vehicles involved in the transportation known,” said Makori.
Otieno said in the past two months’ exports to the market have declined following the commodity from Peru flooding the market.
“As the regulator we are on the ground looking for all possible ways to uplift the quality of the produce penetrating the market,” said Otieno.
Joseph Wanjohi, who chairs the agents’ association said the law was clear that crates must be used during the transportation of the fruits from the farms to the warehouses.
Wajohi further requested the exporters to assist their contracted agents in the acquisition of the much needed crates, to save them from being blacklisted from the market.
“We are in the transition moment thus needing for all to safeguard Kenya’s quality in the international arena,” said Wanjohi.
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