Kenyan chili farmers eye Chinese market

Kenya has secured approval to export dried chilies to China, opening a new market for local farmers and exporters as the country seeks to benefit from Beijing's expanded zero-tariff policy.

The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service said Kenyan dried chilies had been cleared for export, subject to China's phytosanitary, food safety and quality requirements.

The approval comes as Kenya looks to diversify its agricultural exports and tap China's decision to extend zero-tariff treatment, effective May 1, to all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.

The move has been welcomed by Kenyan chili growers, who see the Chinese market as an opportunity to expand production and increase earnings. Chili farming is among Kenya's most lucrative agribusinesses, driven by strong demand in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Judy Towett, a farmer in Kerio Valley in western Kenya, welcomed the approval but urged the government to help growers meet export standards and connect them with potential buyers.

"Let's get into production, let's grow with the right knowledge, meet export standards and turn this opportunity into actual shipments," she said.

Before commercial shipments can begin, farms, processing plants and packing facilities must be registered with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service. Export processing and packing facilities must also be registered with China's customs authorities.

KEPHIS will inspect and approve eligible facilities, and each shipment must include a phytosanitary certificate confirming compliance with Chinese import requirements.

Origin tracing

Exporters must keep records tracing the origin of their produce, follow good agricultural practices and implement pest control measures.

Food safety requirements cover pesticide residues, aflatoxin B1 and heavy metals. Consignments must also be free of salmonella and specified quarantine pests and diseases.

Dried chilies must have a moisture content of no more than 13 percent and comply with China's packaging and labeling requirements.

Kenya already exports several agricultural products to China, including avocados, which the Chinese Foreign Ministry cited in May as among African products benefiting from the expanded trade arrangement.

The new market could also spur investment in drying, processing and packaging, helping Kenyan farmers retain more of the crop's value locally before export.

The approval comes as Kenya steps up efforts to attract Chinese investment in manufacturing and agro-processing, which the government sees as key to job creation and export growth.

A Kenyan delegation led by Lee Kinyanjui, cabinet secretary for investments, trade and industry, visited Beijing last month to explore partnerships with Chinese companies and financial institutions.

At the Kenya-China Investor Roundtable, attended by senior government officials, representatives of the China-Africa Development Fund and Chinese enterprises, Kinyanjui said Kenya is seeking investments that would establish industries and create jobs, rather than simply expand trade in finished goods.