A farmer in Nyeri: Demand for avocado is up in Australia. PHOTO | FILE
By NEVILLE OTUKI
In Summary
Demand for avocados, vegetables and cashew nuts has
surged in Australia, opening a lucrative window for Kenyan producers,
the country’s diplomat in Nairobi has said.
Australian High Commissioner John Feakes said Kenya stands
to reap a fortune from supplying the continent with the products
alongside cut flowers.
The announcement comes amid a steep drop in Kenyan
exports to Australia, having shrunk by nearly a quarter to Sh2.3 billion
last year compared to Sh3 billion in 2014.
“Australia provides a huge market for Kenyan
produce and investors should take advantage of this opportunity,” said
Mr Feakes during last Friday’s launch of the Kenya Australia Chamber of
Commerce — a lobby that promotes bilateral trade.
The lobby is a point of reference for investors
seeking to invest in Nairobi and Canberra. Avocado farming has recently
attracted global attention. Last week, Israeli firm Guri Avocados inked a
deal with Kiambu County which will see farmers export the fruits to
Israel.
Cashew nuts are mainly grown in the Kenyan coast. Studies show that eating the nuts reduces chances of heart attack.
Agriculture is Kenya’s backbone and accounted for 30 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) last year.
Kenya mainly exports tea, coffee and horticultural produce.
About 1,500 Kenyan students are admitted to
universities in Australia while others are working in sectors like ICT,
education, mining, oil and gas and infrastructure. Thirty Australian
companies operate in Kenya, according to records from the embassy.
Australian firm Base Resources is mining titanium
in the Kenyan coastal county of Kwale. In 2014 titanium was Kenya’s
highest earning mineral and last year opened a wide lead over soda ash
and gold.
Official data shows that Kenya exported titanium
worth Sh9.4 billion last year, up from Sh8.8 billion in 2014,
representing a seven per cent growth.
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