Kenya exports 23 per cent of production of avocados and India market access to Kenyan Avocados will help balance the trade deficit and will facilitate growth and development in this sector.
Small domestic production opens an opportunity for the good quality imports said Swadha Rizvi, Deputy Secretary, East and Southern Africa Division Ministry of External Affairs at the launch event of Kenyan Avocado in India jointly organised by Kenya High Commission and ASSOCHAM. This avocado launch event will definitely improve bilateral relations with robust and multi-faceted partnerships. India offers immense potential for avocado consumption.
She further focused on saying that it took 8 long years for negotiations and diplomacy for Kenya to get market access in India for Avocados. So, it is definitely a moment to celebrate as Avocado represents the history, culture and emotions of Kenya and culture is a gateway that has the power to bind countries together and its people together. This is a milestone in the diplomacy of the two countries and bilateral relationships between India and Kenya. Government of India is confident that Avocado market access will help us to strengthen our trade relations with Kenya.
Amb. Irene Oloo, Deputy High Commissioner of Kenya to India shared insights on how Kenya exports about 23 per cent of production of avocado. (95,000 tonnes). The increased production of avocados in Kenya calls for increased market access. It is for this reason that Kenya requested India to allow market access for Kenyan avocados.
She further added that the value of trade between two countries has been growing over the years to USD 1.83 billion in 2022. Currently the Balance of trade is in favour of India. We are confident the India market access to Kenyan Avocados will help balance the trade deficit and will facilitate growth and development in this sector, she highlighted.
Kenya is the world’s 6th largest avocados producer with a cultivated area of nearly 26,000 ha and a production of 416000 metric tonnes in 2021, double that of 2016. The increase of 20 per cent per annum on average has been achieved largely through the expansion of avocado plantation by an average of 14 per cent per annum with yields increasing by about 6 per cent. This sector is dominated by small farmers owning less than 2 ha, who produce 70 per cent of all Kenyan Avocados.
Kenya exports 23 per cent of production of avocados. Kenya accounts for about 82 per cent of East Africa community avocado fruits export. Kenya’s main export markets are Netherlands, USA, China Spain, UK, UAE, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt among others. We are happy that India has been added to its export markets.
Dr Umesh Kamble Co-Chairman ASSOCHAM MSDC and Founder, CEO Farm to Forks highlighted the nutritional value of the superfood and also called avocado as green gold. Consumption of avocadoes is growing in India with respect to additional health benefits but the availability is less. It is a value-added product for the Agri business.
Dr Kamble called for awareness creation and promoting Avocado consumption among Indians. To further boost the consumption of avocados in India, we need to focus on awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to educate people about the nutritional benefits of avocados, different ways to incorporate them into daily meals, and the importance of supporting domestic avocado farmers. He also urged the industry to invest in research to develop innovative avocado-based products that cater to the Indian palate and meet consumer demands.
