The government is set to suspend the export of avocados and macadamia nuts to prevent undesired produce from entering the market.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja said the ban on macadamia exports and harvests would start from Nov. 2, 2024, to March 1, 2025.

“Dealers must submit their current stock for inspection, verification, and clearance by Nov. 15,” Karanja said.

Further, he stated that harvesting, processing, and exporting immature macadamia nuts leads to poor performance of Kenyan produce in the global market.

Karanja said the government would introduce a minimum guarantee price on produce sold in the local market to ensure farmers are not exploited during the period.

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Bruno Linyiru, director general of the Agriculture Food Authority (AFA), said that suspending avocado exports would help sustain and grow Kenya’s international market and minimize the interruption of the crop cycle occasioned by harvesting immature fruits.

He noted that while the AFA would allow the export of small quantities of fruits by air, shipment by sea would not be allowed, with the suspension taking effect on Oct. 25.

He said that the AFA would continue to monitor avocado maturity trends and review the suspension in the first week of December.

Linyiru warned exporters against mixing avocados and mangoes to make up for the shortage of the former during the period.