Listed Kenyan agricultural company Kakuzi PLC announced on Thursday it will offer free fruit maturity testing services for smallholder avocado farmers during the current harvest.

The top exporter of quality Hass variety avocados says it will avail free maturity testing during the harvest running until August as part of its out-grower development programs.

Kakuzi said the free service is meant to ensure the farmers’ avocados comply with quality standards and improve the value of the Kenyan fruit in the international market.

The program seeks to economically empower smallholder avocado farmers by sharing skills and knowledge on avocado growing and overall good agricultural practices, the firm says.

Last year, Kakuzi Avocado Smallholder Farmers enjoyed a payment of Sh57.9 Million and access to the growing international market.

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Kakuzi Executive Head of Corporate Affairs Simon Odhiambo said the testing services at their Avocado Packhouse will reduce post-harvest hurdles arising from handling of premature fruits.

Odhiambo also said the testing services will also boost the national branding objectives that are geared towards positioning Kenya as a leading source market for quality avocado fruits.

Avocado. PHOTO/COURTESY

The services will also be availed at the FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management Systems certified Kakuzi Avocado Processing and Packhouse facility in Makuyu town, along the Nairobi-Nyeri highway.

“We are encouraging Hass variety Avocado farmers to consider taking advantage of the free fruit maturity testing services at the Kakuzi facility to minimize losses that accrue from the premature harvesting of this precious fruit,” said Odhiambo.

He added, “The testing service will also serve to enhance quality assurance for all export-grade fruits, to enable Kenya to grow its international reputation.”

With the free fruit maturity testing services, Kakuzi said it is seeking to empower smallholder farmers to access the lucrative but highly regulated global avocado markets.

Kakuzi PLC is also a member of the Avocado Society of Kenya, which is working to enhance the positioning of Kenyan Avocados as a fruit of choice on the local and global markets.