Tanzania bans Kenyan agency for getting unripe avocados

Avocado farm. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Tanzania has banned a Kenyan agency from buying avocados after the Ministry of Agriculture mentioned it was partaking in unlawful practices.

Kandia Recent Firm was barred from working in Njombe, south-eastern Tanzania, after the agency was accused of buying untimely fruits.

Minister for Agriculture Hussein Bashe mentioned the corporate allegedly purchased unripe avocados and dumped them on the Njombe City Council dumpsite.

“If that firm exists within the nation, blacklist it instantly, cancel their allow,” mentioned Mr Bashe.

He later ordered the arrest of the corporate’s worker, David Sifuna Barasa, who is alleged to have purchased the avocados from middlemen with out a allow.

Mr Barasa mentioned the fruits had been harvested in good situation however poorly dealt with when questioned on why he purchased unripe avocados.

Additionally learn: Avocado exports to China earn Kenya Sh7bn in three months

The minister directed agricultural extension officers and different authorities officers to go to farms and cease the harvesting of unripe avocados.

Njombe District Commissioner Kissa Kasongwa mentioned that two middlemen have additionally been arrested for crop cess evasion and buy of produce with out a authorities allow.

They have been additionally fined Tsh300,000 ($12.82).

Avocado is shortly turning into Tanzania’s new inexperienced gold. In keeping with the Tanzania Horticultural Affiliation, the nation exported over 11,237 tonnes of avocados value $33 million in 2021.

It’s anticipated to export 15,000 tonnes this yr, thus producing $45 million in overseas forex. Figures present Europe imports 85 p.c of Tanzanian avocado shipments. France imported probably the most, adopted by the Netherlands and the UK.

This story was first printed in The EastAfrican