Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has established a task force to address challenges facing the avocado sub-sector.
The challenges and issues in the sector were prompted by disputes between avocado farmers in Murang’a county and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials over the mandatory implementation of the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (ETIMS) as outlined in Section 23 A of the Finance Act 2023.
In response to the conflict, the Deputy President convened a meeting with stakeholders in the avocado industry to address the issue.
The task force will comprise avocado farmers, aggregators, exporters, processors, as well as officials from the Ministries of National Treasury, Agriculture, Cooperative, and Trade.
Gachagua noted that Members of Parliament would deliberate on the specific clause and make amendments to ensure alignment with the realities of the agricultural sector.
“Every document has its challenges, and we will engage stakeholders to find immediate solutions while allowing MPs sufficient time to amend section 23A,” stated the Deputy President.
He further explained that the task force would deliberate on and propose recommendations for all issues raised by stakeholders within the value chain. The aim is to develop an actionable plan within 30 days to prevent disruptions to activities within the avocado sub-sector.
