Kenya bans export of avocados over shortage

The government has banned the export of avocados because of a severe shortage of the fruit in the country.

Through the Directorate of Horticulture, Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has now banned the export of the fruit that has become a favorite as a compliment among many Kenyan dishes.

The shortage has resulted in the increase of the fruit’s price.

According to an article published by Business Daily; “The average price of a 90-kilogramme bag of avocado shot up to Sh2,560 in December, making it the highest cost of the commodity since May 2014, when a bag was selling for slightly above Sh2,700.”

AFA has also attributed the shortage to the off-season of the most popular avocado varieties; Fuerte and Haas.

“Fuerte variety will start getting to the market next month while Hass will be in supply in March, bridging the current deficit and reversing prices to the previous lows,” said AFA director-general Alfred Busolo to Business Daily.