Avocado excellency awards date set

The second edition of the Kenya Avocado Excellence Awards (KAEA) will be held this Friday at a networking gala dinner in a Nairobi hotel even as the country's exports posted growth recently.

According to the Horticultural Crops Directorate, Kenya’s avocado exports for the first six months of 2021 grew nearly 30 percent compared to a similar period last year.

The Awards, now a national ritual in recognition of individuals and organisations involved in the sub-sector, is a brainchild of the Avocado Society of Kenya (ASOK).

ASOK’s Chief Executive Officer, Ernest Muthomi said the event is significant to the subsector since it’s usually aimed at incentivising and encouraging competitiveness and growth among players.

“These awards acknowledge and recognize contributions to the avocado sector,” he told People Daily in an interview.

Muthomi revealed that already, the subsector has witnessed advancement of excellent service delivery and overall industry development setting a stage for recognition of outstanding contribution by industry players.

“The event is also a platform where experts encourage innovation; creativity and strict adherence to industry best practices and regulatory standards,” he added

At the same time, the Awards ceremony which brings together players in the avocado value chain stimulates a healthy competition, and encourages adoption of best practices.

“The awards aim to achieve exceptional performance standards by encouraging the value chain players towards a more concerted approach while taking cognizance of the praiseworthy achievements by individual players,” he noted.

The exports of avocado hit 60,511 metric tons in the first six months of 2021, compared to 46,707 metric tons in a similar period last year, the state agency said in a report released in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

“This growth is attributable to a number of factors including marketing; research and development, products and production innovation,” he added.

The Horticultural Crops Directorate revealed that Kenya generated Sh9.9 billion ($90.8 million) from the exports mainly to Europe and the Middle East.

KAEA Awards targets the avocado value- chain community; both individuals and organizations in Kenya that endeavor to strengthen and grow their services.

Those who are eligible to participate must either be members or non members of the ASOK. Staff members are eligible for nomination.

It is required that nominations are made by the avocado sector value chain players locally or abroad through a single vote for either a woman or man for the calendar year January 2020 – September 2021.

Previous award-winners are also eligible, ASOK says in its website.

On the nominations criteria, the judges will assign points based on available supporting information; clarity of insights, objectives, innovation, demonstration of strategy, execution, creativity and achievement.

“Five entities per category will be announced as nominees,” ASOK further reveals, indicating that the nominees will be announced prior to the Networking Gala Dinner on www.avocadoawards.co.ke.

Winners will be feted with a trophy and a certificate in recognition of their outstanding achievements. Cash awards may also be given.