New bid to boost Avocado production forum held in Kenya

An initiative to increase the production of Avocado through improving its quality and by ensuring it meets the market standards has been launched.

According to the Chief Executive Officer Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya (FPC Kenya) Okisegere ojipat, the consultative meeting involves the avocado actors right from the farmers to the exporters to discuss on where more efforts need to be put in for more quality production.

Representing producers, traders, and service providers, FPC Kenya aims to shape the future of Kenya’s fresh produce industry.

Speaking at the event, on Wednesday ,Dr. George Njenga, the Chief of Party of the USAID Strategic Partnership Program that is spearheading the empowerment of the private sector through one of its components, the Agency and Voice of the Private Sector, emphasized the need of collaboration with all stakeholders in the avocado value chains.

He revealed that working with producer cooperatives and business associations is one of the surest way of achieving economic growth in the country.

“Kenya has the capacity to produce better products which is an advantage of connectivity to good quality but we must work as stakeholders together to put farmers and exporters in the forefront and also ensure that their voices are heard,” He noted.

The Standards and trademark,Director, Dr Andrew Edewa on his part, stated that the cost of compliance is high, however farmers need to avoid shortcuts and practice good agricultural methods.

He also noted that lack of enough information on how to comply with the standards to farmers is a challenge.

The Trademark Director urged farmers to partner with private sectors when seeking financial assistance.

“Government cannot give money to everyone, we have to partner with private sectors, so as farmers are able to comply with our standards to access the market in order to integrate into a global value chain,” the Directors disclosed.