Kenya is seeing a rise in organized criminal gangs targeting avocado growers. With the demand for the fruit growing in the US and Europe, Kenya overtook South Africa last year to become the continent's top avocado exporter. Vigilante groups are now being formed to protect the crop, being hired to guard farms and avocado orchards. "You can fence the entire farm but that won't stop them," he says, showing me where his barbed wire fence has been cut. Avocados tend to be harvested in Kenya between February and October - but the thieves have been targeting the immature fruit.

Source: The Star January 17, 2022 14:35 UTC