The Kenyan government is planning to introduce a new police unit focused on agriculture, specifically aimed at tackling the increasing theft of avocados across the country.
This announcement was made by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe during a meeting with stakeholders from the Avocado Subsector on Monday, April 7.
According to CS Kagwe, the new unit—named the Agriculture Police Unit—will be responsible for ensuring the safety of farm produce both while still on the farm and after it has been harvested.
The move is part of a broader effort by the government to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers by addressing illegal activities within the agriculture sector.
“To protect the livelihoods of our farmers, we must ensure that their hard work is not lost to unlawful activity,” said Kagwe.
“The Agriculture Police will help secure farms and maintain order across the entire agricultural value chain, from production to distribution.”
The Cabinet Secretary emphasized that creating a secure environment for farming is essential for farmers to benefit fully from their labor.
He also encouraged avocado farmers to form cooperatives. According to Kagwe, such organizations would help farmers avoid exploitation by dishonest brokers and give them stronger bargaining power when selling their produce. This would help them fetch better prices and improve their earnings.
“The proposed measures are intended to strengthen the avocado subsector by improving productivity, protecting incomes, and promoting honest trading practices,” he added.
This development comes shortly after the Ministry of Agriculture lifted a ban on the harvesting of Hass avocados for export.
The initial suspension, issued by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) on October 25, 2024, was due to concerns that the fruits had not yet reached the proper maturity level for export, particularly via sea shipment.
In a follow-up survey conducted in January 2025, the AFA found that while the Fuerte and Pinkerton avocado varieties were ripe and ready for export, the Hass variety was still immature.
As a result, the authority allowed the harvesting and export of Fuerte and Pinkerton varieties starting from February 7, 2025.
Regarding the Hass variety, the AFA announced that it would be ready for sea export beginning on March 17, 2025.
From that date, exporters of Hass avocados would be allowed to ship their produce, provided their packhouses pass the required inspections.
“The export season for Hass avocados via sea shipment will begin on March 17, 2025,” the authority noted. “Clearance for exporting Hass avocados will be granted only after successful inspection of the packhouses.”
With the formation of the Agriculture Police Unit and the reopening of the export window for Hass avocados, the government hopes to boost confidence among avocado farmers, improve income security, and enhance the overall performance of Kenya’s avocado industry.
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