Nairobi: The closing of the avocado harvesting season for sea shipment for the 2025/2026 Fiscal Year will come into force from October 20, 2025, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has announced. In a closure notice issued by AFA Director General Brun Linyiru, it was stated that the export of Hass, Fuerte, Pinkerton, and Jumbo varieties will continue by air shipment.
According to Kenya News Agency, the closure notice issued to avocado and mango exporters also indicates that the harvesting season is equally closed for avocado oil processors. The Authority plans to conduct verification inspections of processors to determine existing avocado oil stocks. "AFA shall issue export permits only for oil processed before the closure of the harvesting season. Processors with oil stock and planning to export during the closed season are advised to request inspection through '[email protected],'" advised Linyiru.
"No permit will be issued for the export of avocado oil processed after the closure of the harvesting season," added the Director General. A recent survey conducted in major avocado production zones across the country to determine current production trends and forecast future production for the main season next year indicated that there were insufficient volumes of crop to warrant sea shipment.
Linyiru mentioned that the Authority will continue to monitor avocado maturity trends and patterns and review the notice in the second week of January 2026 for appropriate guidance. He warned that any exporter or avocado oil processor who contravenes the season closure guidelines will have their export license revoked, and permits will not be issued for export consignments initiated contrary to the guidelines.
Regarding mango exports, the Authority observed that following the closure of the avocado harvesting season and export by sea, some exporters mix mango consignments with avocado for sea shipment, which is against the provisions of the horticultural crops' regulations 2020. "It is, therefore, notified that all mango exporters must ensure the quantity of mango for which an export permit is sought fully constitutes mango fruits only; exporters must apply for physical inspection, clearly stating the location of the packhouse, to facilitate inspection," Linyiru stated.
The Authority advises mango exporters to comply with the issued guidelines or risk not being issued an export permit for their consignments. AFA, as Linyiru stated, will continue to enforce regulations to ensure quality produce is marketed locally and internationally by guaranteeing that only mature avocados are harvested. "This is to sustain and grow Kenya's international markets, as well as minimize crop cycle interruptions occasioned by harvesting immature avocados, which results in a reduction of projected volumes in subsequent harvest seasons," he added.