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    Extra Virgin Avocado Oil 1 of 1 2

    By George Munene

    The retail price of one liter of cooking has risen to over Sh350, an almost 50 per cent jump from last year. Incredulously, avocadoes-- a rich source of natural cooking oil are rotting on farms across Kenya. 

    This has pushed farmers such as Japhet Kabesa in Vihiga County to look into processing avocadoes into cooking oil.

    “For years we’ve been lamenting about a lack of market for our fruits, the bulk of which rot on our farms while we continue paying ever-rising prices for cooking oil.

    We have collectivised as a group of 300 farmers with over 2,000 trees and are looking into setting up an avocado cooking oil business which we hope will arrest this,” said Japhet on the phone with Farmbiz looking for an avocado oil extractor".

    Though it's a novel product, given it is natural and will be relatively affordable, he has no doubt it is something people will eventually embrace.

    Nasirembe Wanjala, an agricultural engineer in charge of agricultural mechanisation at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), Katimani, explains that since the rise in international demand for palm oil has seen Malaysia--Kenya’s largest palm oil exporter-- restrict exports his phone has not stopped ringing with inquiries on avocado oil extractor machines.

    Related News: Chinese traders plan on increasing Kenyan avocado imports

    ”KALRO used to research on manual oil extractors which had to be discontinued because they were labour intensive, not easily portable, and costly to fabricate. Through a (PPP) public-private partnership arrangement we train and fabricate individual components of the electric oil expeller with artisans in Machakos,” he said.

    With this machine, farmers can press 15 to 20 liters an hour depending on the quality and source of raw material as well as the expertise of the machine operator.

    On average, four kilos of avocado yield one liter of oil, but this again hinges on the raw material. Avocadoes growing in areas with abundant rains such as Kisii and Muranga have more moisture content and will require about three kilograms while those cultivated in more arid regions such as Machakos or Makueni may require seven kilograms to yield one litre of oil. 

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                                       Electric oil extractor

    The electric oil extractor can process virgin oil which is made from fresh avocado and preheated oil, extracted from ripened and dried avocadoes. 

    The avocado is first cut and fed into a hopper. It is then picked by an auger and pulverised in a compression chamber. From there the oil is released and the cake remains extruded. Depending on its intended use, the avocado oil is then sieved for dirt or suspension. 

    The waste can be used as biomass for biogas, making soaps, cosmetics, window pane putty, and many other products.

    If it is meant for consumption, the oil may need to be purified before oxidizing.

    Related News: New platform helps link avocado farmers to local and export buyers

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    Other value addition processes such as water separation, filtration, centrifugal separation, stilling, and distillation can further be employed.

    The machine runs on a single-phase two-horsepower motor. It is also fitted with a spiral auger mechanism that ensures continuous feeding.

    Nasirembe points out that the electrical oil extractor is now priced at Sh75,000 but its price shifts depending on the cost of materials such as the stainless material, gearbox, and motor.

    “There is currently no standard price for avocado oil; depending on the raw materials used, and method of extraction it can cost anywhere from Sh200 to Sh400 a liter. Virgin oil is more expensive as it’s costlier to make,” he added.

    Nasirembe Wanjala, KALRO: 0733812953

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    By George Munene

    According to China's Director-General of the Department of African Affairs, Wu Peng, the first batch of Kenyan avocados arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday with Chinese importers showing strong interest in their high quality and plan to import on a bigger scale. 

    The arrival of the inaugural shipment of Hass variety avocado from Sunripe Kenya follows China’s clearing of 15 Kenyan firms to export fresh avocados. 

    Since 2019, Kenya had only been allowed to import frozen avocados owing to the prevalence of fruit flies in the country.

    Kakuzi PLC also shipped its first batch of avocado to China this weekend 

    The Kenyan government expects China’s million-dollar avocado market to import 40 per cent of Kenya’s avocados, making it the largest overseas market for the fruit.

    Related News: Kakuzi banks on macadamia & blueberries as avocado business falters

    Related News: Horticulture directorate revises avocado export harvesting requirements

    The avocado is one of the fastest-growing fruits in China. In 2010, China imported only 2 tons of avocado. By 2020, China imported 36,000 metric tons. This is expected to increase over five times to about 196,000 metric tons by 2028.

    China has mainly imported avocados from Chile, Mexico, and Peru.

    "In this trial phase, we intend to test the entire system capacity and fix any challenges between ourselves, the phytosanitary protocols facility, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) ahead of the planned larger shipments before the end of the next quarter," read part of a statement by Kakuzi’s Managing Director Chris Flowers.

    Related News: Hass avocado earn farmers premium in international markets

    The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) early this week confirmed that the Chinese National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) had approved 15 orchards, 9 packhouses, and one fumigation facility to export fresh avocado to China.

    "Currently, the Chinese market is relatively small compared to the European market. We hope that by exposing the discerning Chinese consumer to high-quality fruit from Kenya, that market will outpace the current exports into Europe," Flowers said. Adding that "the potential to grow the Chinese market demand is huge; if we maintain the highest quality standards for our exports."

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    By George Munene

    A new carbon credit project will assist up to 5,000 small-scale farmers in Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia to unlock the international carbon market in the developing world. 

    It will give access to loans that smallholder farmers will use to transition to agroforestry at scale and monetize carbon stored in the trees they plant. These loans will be repaid by the farmers using future income generated by revenue from the sale of carbon credits. 

    Financed by FSD Africa and Rabobank ACORN/Rabo Foundation the program is geared to enhance sustainable farming for African small-scale farmers. Smallholder farmers will not only reap the benefits of agroforestry, but also the profits of the voluntary carbon market.

    Related News: Kwale residents trade mangrove cultivation for carbon credits

    Related News: Embu farmers slash energy costs by 40% with coffee husk briquettes

    80- 90% of revenues from the carbon removal units sold, will flow back to the smallholders and their communities.

    Acorn – Agroforestry CRUs for the Organic Restoration of Nature – unlocks the international carbon market for smallholder farmers in the developing world. The company employs data to make CO2 sequestration monitoring and monetization cost-effective and scalable, while also making it more transparent and data-driven.

    This enables it to operate cost-effectively and offers the possibility to scale up and reach a significant number of smallholder farmers.

    “The program has a great potential for improving farmers’ income through the sale of carbon credits and other income from the agroforestry projects,” said FSD Africa CEO, Mark Napier.

    Related News: UK gov identifies 3 high-potential products for Kenyan agri exporters

    Phase two of the partnership aims at setting up a potential capital market instrument based on the results of the pilot project.

    Acorn’s program aims at reaching one million farmers globally by 2025.

     

    For more information:

    FSD Africa 

    Nelson Karanja

    Director, Communications & Engagement

    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

     

    Acorn – Rabobank

    Margreet Muizebelt

    Finance Lead Acorn

    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

     

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