Murang’a County launches modern avocado packaging plant to boost farmers’ incomes

KENYA – Avocado farmers in Murang’a County are set to benefit from improved earnings and reduced post-harvest losses following the official launch of a state-of-the-art avocado grading and packaging facility in Nga’raria ward, Kandara constituency.

The new aggregation centre, fully equipped with a cold storage unit, is operated by the Murang’a Avocado Farmers Cooperative Union Ltd. (MAVOC), which represents 5,689 members from 16 affiliate cooperatives across the region.

It is expected to enhance quality control, streamline the value chain, and open up more reliable export markets for local avocado growers.

Speaking at the commissioning of the facility, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata underscored his administration’s commitment to supporting agriculture through infrastructure development and market linkages.

 “This facility is not just a milestone for the county’s agricultural sector—it’s a gateway to better livelihoods and youth employment. It will add value to our avocados and help farmers fetch higher prices in both local and international markets,” he said.

The governor also hinted at future plans to support value addition initiatives for avocados, such as processing avocado oil and other by-products.

The packaging plant is designed to meet international quality standards, with centralized operations for sorting, washing, grading, and packaging.

This will significantly boost the marketability and traceability of Murang’a avocados, particularly in overseas markets where compliance and consistency are key.

Nominated MP Sabina Chege, a member of the National Assembly Agriculture Committee, welcomed the development but called for clear regulations to protect farmers from rampant farm-level theft.

“Now that we have this facility, it is critical to implement proper guidelines for harvesting and transporting avocados to prevent theft. Farmers must also join cooperatives to fully benefit from such investments,” she urged.

Farmers expressed optimism that the new centre would resolve long-standing challenges around post-harvest losses and low returns.

Purity Mwihaki Warui, a farmer from Gikuu village, said the cooperative model had already improved prices dramatically.

“We used to sell a single fruit for just KES 3. Now, we’re earning up to KES 80 per kilo, and with this facility, we believe the price will rise to KSh 100 or more,” she said.

Francis Njuguna, a 70-year-old farmer managing 40 avocado trees, echoed the sentiment, calling the facility a “game changer” that will stabilize prices and reduce exploitation.

MAVOC General Manager John Mburu Ngigi highlighted the cooperative’s achievements, noting that in the past three years, the union had consolidated over 500 tonnes of fruit and secured stable markets.

He pledged to work with the county government to curb theft, coordinate produce handling, and eliminate exploitation by middlemen.

 “This facility will strengthen our bargaining power and ensure farmers receive fair returns,” said Ngigi.

The launch marks a transformative step in Murang’a’s avocado value chain, positioning the county as a key player in Kenya’s growing horticultural export sector.

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