This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
Kenya has been working to regain access to the lucrative European Union market for its mango exports, which were banned nearly a decade ago due to high levels of fruit flies.
The country imposed a ban on mango exports to Europe in 2012, citing concerns that the produce would be blacklisted due to the presence of quarantine pests.
However, after establishing pest-free zones in Makueni and Elgeyo Marakwet counties, Kenya is now seeking to have the ban lifted.
According to Ojepati Okesgere, the CEO of Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya, the delegation is in Brussels to 'put a strong case for our mangoes' and seek to resume exports to the EU.
The creation of pest-free zones has allowed Kenya to send trial shipments of mangoes to Italy, which were met with satisfaction by the Italian authorities.
Kenya's mango farmers have been struggling with the fruit fly since 2003, when the pest was first reported in the country. The self-imposed ban has led to lower returns for farmers, who have been forced to sell their produce to the Middle East instead.
However, the competition from Egyptian fruits in the Middle East market has been a major challenge for Kenyan farmers, who face higher shipping costs due to Kenya's distance from the region.
