This archive report was first published on 8 July 2021.
Published on July 8, 2021, Kenya is ready to resume a multi-billion shilling mango export business to the European Union (EU) market in September, following an eight-year self-imposed ban due to interceptions of fruit flies.
The European Union has approved the resumption of exports after tests showed reduced levels of pest incidence.
The move is a significant boost to thousands of families that rely on the mango tree for their livelihoods, with the country earning close to Sh5 billion in foreign exchange reserves at the peak of its export to the European market.
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) is developing a certification protocol to ensure mangoes are exported with zero pests.
Additionally, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is partnering with the private sector to fund hot water treatment facilities to help eliminate fruit flies before export.
"What we have done is to develop a certification protocol, currently being validated by the stakeholders in the value chain," said Kephis Chief Inspector George Momanyi.
"The tool is to ensure certification is good. We will ensure we go by it. There is the hot water treatment which USAID committed to financing part of the private sector to invest in," he added.
Mr. Momanyi noted that applying newer technologies will be a game-changer in maintaining the standards.
"As you eliminate the fruit fly in the farm, you may not finish it 100 per cent, the hot water treatment will ensure the pests are fully eliminated," said Momanyi.
He said the resumption of exports comes at a time when there is a huge gap in the global market as the big suppliers such as China and India are in off-peak season.
"One particular advantage we have over the main suppliers is that our peak season is between November and March. We are at a point where the big producers are off-season so we need to leverage in and get into the market," said Momanyi.
