This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
Avocado Exports Offer Hope for Kenya's Smallholder Farmers ¶
Exporting avocados to the high-value European market can significantly boost the incomes of smallholder farmers in Kenya, according to a recent study by researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and partner institutes.
Published on December 19, 2019, the study found that participating in avocado export markets can raise incomes of smallholder farmers by nearly 39 percent and fetch better prices for their produce.
“International agricultural markets generally offer higher prices and demand higher quality as compared to local markets in Kenya. Producing for these markets could raise smallholder farmers’ incomes,” said lead author and senior researcher Mulubrhan Amare.
The study, which examined the impact of smallholder farmers’ participation in avocado export markets on labor inputs, farm yields, sales prices, and incomes in Kenya, revealed that participating farmers were older, had larger farms, received more training, and owned more avocado trees of the Haas variety, which is favored in international markets.
Avocado exports from Kenya, the world’s third-largest avocado producer, have been declining, with the country currently exporting only 10 percent of its total production. However, the study recommends that policymakers focus on making export markets more inclusive by enhancing the participation of small farm holders.
“Smallholder farmers can greatly benefit from participation in avocado export markets and other supply chain activities. Providing households access to foreign markets and up-to-date information on farm technology, along with the dissemination of simple and domestically invented technologies, could achieve higher farm incomes, revenues, and sales prices,” said Amare.
