The Horticultural Crops Directorate has closed avocado harvests and exports by sea to prevent the pre-mature harvesting of popular varieties of fruit including Hass, Fuerte, Pinkerton and Jumbo.
Through a statement, head of the directorate, Benjamin Tito said growers will not be allowed to export the popular avocado varieties by sea after today.
“In order to safeguard the industry, the directorate undertook a survey to ascertain avocado maturity and projected volumes and found there were insufficient mature fruits in orchards across the country,” he said in a notice.
“Harvesting of the off-season crop is inadequate to warrant shipment by sea and will interfere with the cropping cycle of the trees thereby reducing projected volumes in subsequent harvests” Tito added.
Tito said meetings with stakeholders on the matter resolved to block shipments by sea after November 15 to limit illegal harvesting.
“Export clearance shall only be by air subject to inspection and approval by the directorate including fruits from the East African Community member states unless transhipment,” Tito said.
The Directorate in March this year re-opened avocado exports as the country sought to capitalise on a global shortage of the commodity.
Growers were allowed to export the Fuerte and Hass varieties from March 4 and March 18, respectively.