23/11/2021 | Kenya

Kenya has not exported mangoes to the European Union for about 10 years. The country has created pest-free zones that could allow the resumption of exports. A delegation was sent to Brussels to negotiate this resumption.

 

The Kenyan delegation, led by officials from Kephis, the horticulture and plant health inspection service, his), is relying on the creation of pest-free zones to get the ban lifted. These pest-free zones, located in Makueni and Elgeyo Marakwet counties, made it possible to send a few tonnes of mangoes to Italy on a trial basis, which were satisfactory.

 

"We are here to defend our mangoes and try to resume exports to the European market," said Ojepati Okesgere, Managing Director of the Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya.

 

In Kenya mango and fruit growers have struggled with the fruit fly since 2003 when the parasite was first reported in the country from Sri Lanka. In 2012, Kenya banned the export of its mangoes to the EU and sold most of its mangoes to the Middle East, but revenues are lower than what producers would get from EU member states.

 

 

source : businessdailyafrica.com