Kenyan fresh produce exporters have a reason to smile as Maersk comes with their new cold storage containers. These containers help farmers to export their fresh produce at ease.
What’s the story?
Maersk Line Eastern Africa Managing Director Mads Skov-Hansen said, “For Kenya’s avocado exporters, the inception of controlled atmosphere containers has created a fundamental change. Before the new technologies were available, the Middle East had been as far as the exporters could reach in containers. Now, Europe, where the fruit sells for roughly triple the price, is within reach”.
Also he says, “Kenyan farmers could now export avocados and fruits across Europe and the Middle East as there were now ample cold facilities to ensure freshness of produce upon arrival at their destination”.
How does it impact?
This further improves the situation of Kenyan fresh produces, Mr. Skov Hansen credits the technology by saying, “Enhanced export value chain would improve the quantity of fruits sold thereby enabling local farmers earn more. Out of the 170,000 metric tonnes of avocados produced, about 140,000 metric tonnes was sold to the export market where a metric tonne earned up to Sh180,000, which is three times the amount a farmer gets when selling the produce locally”
Further actions
Due to the positive shipping climate created by the cold storage technology, Kenya’s Export Promotion Council Chief executive Peter Biwott said, “Avocado farmers were being educated on proper agricultural practices needed to produce market-bound fruits with county governments engaged to help farmers access certified seedlings as well as have standby extension officers”.
This announcement was made by Mr Skov-Hansen when he released the third quarter A.P. Moller Maersk Shipping report that covers activities at Mombasa and Dar ports in East Africa.
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Source: Daily Nation
