Kenyan farmers organise to regain avocado pricing power

Avocado growers in Gatundu North, Kiambu County, are forming a coordinated structure to address long-standing challenges linked to middlemen in the Kenyan avocado value chain. Farmers report that most fruit is sold locally for between Ksh 5 and Ksh 10, while the same fruit reaches export markets at between Sh300 and Sh500, creating a gap between production costs and returns. Using today’s rate, these values represent approximately US$0.04 to US$0.08 at the farm level and US$2.36 to US$3.93 in export markets.

Producers state that they carry the cost of planting, maintenance, and harvesting, yet remain at the lowest end of the value chain as brokers and exporters determine prices and access to buyers. In response, growers in Gatundu North are organising under the Ashindi Kiambu Community Association, described as a community-led platform focused on improving coordination and bargaining capacity.

The association plans to establish a corporate society intended to consolidate avocado sales, reduce the role of intermediaries, and support more stable producer pricing. As part of a longer-term production plan, the group has initiated a seedling-planting campaign to increase the supply base and prepare for possible agro-processing activities in the region.

The group’s objectives include future processing of higher-value avocado products such as oil, cosmetics, and food items for domestic and export markets. The initiative is led by farmer David Ngugi, who notes that a collective marketing structure is viewed as a way to reduce losses and improve income stability for growers.

Producers and residents are also requesting government support for the establishment of processing capacity in Gatundu North. They argue that local processing would help buffer growers from market fluctuations, expand regional employment, and improve Kenya’s competitive position in the global avocado sector.

Source: Citizen Digital