Officials of Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) who met avocado marketers and transportation agents in Murang’a said the set regulations need to be strictly adhered to, to ensure the quality of avocado set aside for export is not compromised. The officials David Makoli and Collins Otieno stressed the need for all the players in the avocado value chain to be alert about the set rules to safeguard the quality of the fruits. They reiterated that the new regulations require avocados to be transported by agents licensed by the Horticulture Crops Directorate.
“Avocado regulations demand that the produce be transported in plastic crates and in a covered vehicle. Transporting the produce in open pickups has been outlawed,” said Makoli.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of concerns by stakeholders after an unlicensed agent was a week ago caught transporting avocado to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) without covering the produce as required by the regulations. The action caused tension in the sector prompting the blocking of nine containers of an exporter from leaving a warehouse in Mombasa for shipment.
Source: kenyanews.go.ke