Murang’a County government opens their first Avocados pack house

The opening of the first fully farmer-owned avocado pack house and grading line in Murang’a County, equipped with Israeli technology, marks a significant milestone for the region’s avocado industry. This development is expected to boost farmers’ incomes by improving quality control, reducing post-harvest losses, and opening up more reliable export markets.

May be an image of 5 people and fruit

Key Impacts on Murang’a Avocado Farmers:

  1. Increased Prices: Farmers anticipate prices rising from KES 80 per kilo to over KES 100 per kilo due to enhanced processing and market access . Previously, some farmers sold avocados for as low as KES 3 per fruit, but cooperative efforts have already improved earnings significantly .

  2. Quality and Export Standards: The pack house features centralized sorting, washing, grading, and packaging, meeting international standards. This ensures traceability and compliance with export market requirements, particularly in Europe and the Middle East .

  3. Reduction in Middlemen Exploitation: The facility, operated by the Murang’a Avocado Farmers Cooperative Union (MAVOC), empowers farmers by eliminating brokers and ensuring fairer prices. MAVOC represents 5,689 farmers across 16 cooperatives .

  4. Future Value Addition: Governor Irungu Kang’ata hinted at plans to expand into avocado oil and other by-products, further increasing profitability .

  5. Murang’a’s Leading Position: The county contributes 31% of Kenya’s avocado exports, making it the top exporter in Eastern Africa. Kenya itself is Africa’s leading avocado producer, with exports earning Sh18 billion in 2023 .

 

May be an image of 3 people and daisChallenges Addressed:

  • Post-Harvest Losses: The cold storage unit minimizes spoilage, a longstanding issue for farmers .

  • Theft Prevention: The cooperative model and stricter regulations aim to curb farm-level theft, which has forced farmers to guard orchards overnight .

This initiative aligns with Kenya’s broader strategy to dominate the global avocado trade, targeting markets like the U.S. and China . With continued investment, Murang’a’s avocado sector is poised for transformative growth