Farmers calls for combined efforts to curb rampant theft of avocado
Murang’a farmers are calling for combined efforts from all relevant stakeholders to restrain increased theft of avocado.
The farmers are now crying to the local county government, elected leaders and security agencies to come together and draw a strategy that will end the crime which is not only targeting avocado but other farm produce.
During a press briefing on Monday, the farmers claimed that despite their efforts to prevent the theft, their fruits are being stolen from farms even during day time.
The criminal activity, farmers observed, can only be ended if all relevant stakeholders play a part to ensure farm produce is protected from the daring thieves.
They argued that due to theft, they could not produce targeted tonnage of avocado per harvesting season.
Former Murang’a county speaker and who is also an avocado farmer Mr. Nduati Kariuki cited the theft is perpetuated by a group of youth who are addicted to drugs.
Nduati noted that the young people could not work for wages forcing local farmers to import work force from outside the county.
He explained that one way to eliminate theft of farm produce is to fight drug abuse among youth from the area.
“Liquor and drugs are not only destroying our future since the future relies on the youth but also destroying our economy.” Added Nduati.
On his part, chairman of Murang’a county avocado union, Mr. John Mwaniki divulged that the union failed to meet its avocado production target last year due to theft.
Mwaniki observed that members of the union who are more than 3, 000 managed to produce 258 tons against the targeted 600 tons.
He called for assenting of the avocado bill which was passed by the previous county assembly so as to streamline the sector.
An official with Alivado Company Mr. Munene Gicharu highlighted that his firm since last year has incurred losses of more than 50 million due to theft of avocado.
He said exporting of low quality fruits has also prompted many international buyers to avoid purchasing Kenyan avocado.
Munene called for concerned government bodies to ensure regulations governing standards of farm produce saying brokers and unlicensed buyers should be shunned from operation.