Urgent Notice From State House to Avocado and Mango Farmers, Details

The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has announced the closure of Kenya’s avocado harvesting season for sea exports, effective Friday, October 30, 2026, following a decline in production volumes.

The decision affects exporters dealing in Hass, Fuerte, Pinkerton and Jumbo avocado varieties. However, the authority clarified that shipments by air will remain permitted during the closure.

In a notice issued on Wednesday, October 28, AFA Director General Calistus Efukho said a nationwide survey had established that the available avocado supply was insufficient to sustain exports by sea.

The survey covered major avocado-producing regions and assessed current production trends alongside forecasts for the next main season.

The authority said all avocado exports would remain subject to inspection by the Horticultural Crops Directorate. Exporters must also provide traceability information for every consignment to ensure compliance with the regulations.

AFA has also closed the harvesting season for avocado oil processors. Businesses holding existing stocks of avocado oil intended for export must present them for verification by Monday, November 2.

Additionally, the authority has prohibited the importation of avocados for oil processing during the closure. The restriction seeks to prevent traders from harvesting immature local fruits and falsely declaring them as imported produce.

In a separate directive, AFA warned mango exporters against combining mango consignments with avocados destined for sea shipment during the restricted period.

The authority said the practice violates the Horticultural Crops Regulations, 2020, and directed exporters to ensure that consignments covered by their permit applications contain only mangoes.

Exporters and avocado oil processors who breach the new guidelines risk losing their licences. AFA also warned that export permits would not be issued for consignments prepared in violation of the directives.

The measures are intended to regulate the export sector during a period of low avocado production while strengthening compliance with harvesting and export requirements.

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