Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) managing director Esther Kimani says they have already invited Chinese experts to conduct risk analysis and field visits during avocado harvesting season. This was part of China’s recommendation before it opens up its market to Kenya. Kephis, noted Ms Kimani, has received many requests for export of avocado to China since 2011. Ms Kimani added: “The Chinese NPPO wanted Kenya to indicate to them which risk mitigation measures were in place to ensure the intended avocado exports were free of these pests. In 2017, President Uhuru Kenyatta met Chinese President Xi Jinping in China where they held bilateral talks.

Source: Daily Nation March 17, 2019 06:51 UTC