- Kagwe warns farmers against harvesting immature avocado and macadamia.
- Government plans more support for quality production and certification.
- Farmers are urged to use organised markets to earn better returns.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has renewed calls for higher earnings among farmers by improving the quality and marketability of the country’s agricultural produce.
Kagwe singled out avocado and macadamia growers, cautioning them against picking their crops before full maturity. He said produce that falls short of export standards risks tarnishing Kenya’s standing abroad and could lock farmers out of high-value international markets.
His remarks echo growing concern within the sector, where premature harvesting has repeatedly triggered rejections and stricter export controls in recent seasons.
Government support pledged
To help farmers meet these standards, Kagwe outlined a package of support measures. These include access to quality planting material, stronger extension services, produce aggregation and certification support.
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He added that the government wants to see more processing take place within growing counties themselves, rather than exporting raw or semi-processed produce elsewhere.
Middlemen blamed for low returns
Kagwe argued that farmers who take the time to grow and sell quality produce through properly organised markets stand to earn significantly more than those pressured into early sales through middlemen. He framed this as a central goal of the government’s push to reform how produce moves from farm to market.
By Benedict Aoya
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