This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
On November 4, 2019, chilli producers in Kenya made a significant shift in their export strategy, moving away from the European Union (EU) to the Middle East.
This decision was prompted by the Codling Moth pest, which has been a quarantine pest in Europe, leading to restrictions on Kenyan chilli exports.
According to Ojepati Okesegere, chief executive at Fresh Producers Consortium of Kenya, over 90 percent of firms that used to export chilli to Europe have stopped due to the presence of the pest.
Exporters face significant challenges in meeting the EU's phytosanitary requirements, including fumigation using phosphine gas, creating a pest-free zone, or exporting dry chilli, which fetches a lower price than fresh chilli.
Kenya's horticultural produce continues to face challenges in international markets due to phytosanitary requirements, with local avocado facing stringent rules to access the Chinese market.
