Nairobi — Kakuzi Public Limited Company (PLC) has become the first local entity to secure approval from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) to process and prepare export-grade fresh avocados for the Chinese market.
The approval comes after the recent signing of bilateral trade protocols to facilitate the export of fresh avocado and aquatic products from Kenya to China.
The firm secured the approval following a stringent phytosanitary audit for its extensive Kakuzi farms and packhouse.
As part of the implementation of the protocols, KEPHIS has been undertaking facility audits to ensure the integrity of local packhouses earmarked to provide packaging solutions for avocado exports.
Speaking when confirming the firm’s facility inspection and approval, Kakuzi Plc Managing Director Chris Flowers said the Kakuzi fresh produce Packhouse and Orchards near Makuyu town have been inspected and found to be compliant with the high international standards.
"We recently were subjected to a series of random and procedural inspections by KEPHIS, and I am glad to announce that the Kakuzi’s orchards and Packhouse are among the first approved large-scale farming and packing operations, cleared for the Chinese market. At the Makuyu facility and Orchards, we maintain world-class phytosanitary standards for our exports to Europe, and the KEPHIS approval further serves to underscore our quality commitments," said Flowers.
Last year Kakuzi received an unconditional renewal on a crucial globally recognized agricultural food quality certification, the Global Good Agricultural Practices (GLOBAL G.P.A) following a production and processing procedures audit.
The certification allows Kakuzi PLC to produce avocados to access the European market with a recognized mark of quality issued by NSF Certification Limited, a UK based certification body.
"At Kakuzi PLC, we have invested more than Kshs 200 million in the last one year to guarantee quality production and environmental management practices leading to such certifications as the GLOBALG.A.P. To attain such a globally recognized certification, it calls for sustained co-operation and commitments by all our stakeholders to maintain the highest possible production and environmental management standards," Flowers said.
"To ensure that our locally produced fruits meet the global standard, we have continued to invest in globally benchmarked staff training and production facilities and practices making us a truly Kenyan but world-class agro-business firm," he added.
Kakuzi PLC is a listed Kenyan agricultural company trading on both the Nairobi and London stock engaging in the cultivation, processing and marketing of avocados, blueberries, macadamia, tea, livestock and commercial forestry.