🔅 From Avocado Booms to Tragic Endings
Kenya's Rise in the Avocado Industry, Malawi's Vice President Perishes in Plane Crash, and Migrants Face Peril off Yemen's Coast
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Kenya's Avocado Boom: From Humble Fruit to Global Superstar
Kenya is on a mission to dominate the world of avocados.Â
The country is already Africa's top avocado exporter, and it's now climbing the global ranks faster than a millennial's love for avocado toast. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Kenya reached the third spot in global avocado exports last year, with a staggering 24% increase in volume - the biggest jump of any major producer.
The Perfect Recipe for Avocado Success
Kenya's success in the avocado game is no accident.Â
The country has the ideal climate for growing these creamy green delights, with plenty of rain and consistent equatorial sunlight that allows the fruit to "grow by day and go to sleep at night," as one exporter poetically put it.Â
Kenyan farmers are also quick learners, with a well-tended avocado tree able to bear a decent crop within just a few years. And let's not forget the modest wages for farm workers (the official minimum is around $57 a month), which helps Kenya keep its avocado prices competitive on the global market.
Challenges on the Path to Avocado Domination
But it's not all smooth sailing for Kenya's avocado industry.Â
The country has faced accusations of exporting unripe fruit, which can leave a bad taste in consumers' mouths (literally).Â
Shipping the delicate fruit is also a tricky business, with temperatures needing to be carefully monitored to prevent spoilage.Â
And with the Red Sea route currently out of bounds due to regional tensions, the longer journey around South Africa adds to the cost and risk of the fruit perishing en route.
Despite these challenges, Kenya's avocado industry is thriving, and the country is seeing a different kind of green revolution take hold. With demand for avocados growing globally, particularly in Europe and the US, Kenya is well-positioned to continue its rise as an avocado superpower.Â
So the next time you slice into a perfectly ripe avocado, there's a good chance it might have come from the hills of Kenya – and that's something worth toasting (with avocado, of course).
Malawi Vice President and Nine Others Perish in Plane Crash
Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other unfortunate souls met their untimely demise when their small military plane nosedived in bad weather.
After a gruelling search that lasted more than a day, the wreckage of the plane was finally located near a hill in the thick forests and hilly terrain near the northern city of Mzuzu.Â
In a live address on state television, President Lazarus Chakwera delivered the news, stating that the plane had been "completely destroyed" and everyone onboard was killed on impact. Chakwera described Chilima as "a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice president."
Among the passengers on the ill-fated flight was former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi.
The group was travelling to Mzuzu to attend the funeral of a former government minister, a trip that Chilima had just returned from an official visit to South Korea.
Air traffic controllers had advised the plane not to attempt a landing at Mzuzu's airport due to bad weather and poor visibility, asking it to turn back to Lilongwe.
The aircraft, a small, propeller-driven plane operated by the Malawian armed forces, disappeared from radar shortly after the air traffic control's warning.
Chilima, who was serving his second term as vice president, was a prominent figure in Malawian politics. He had previously served in the role from 2014-2019 and even ran for president in 2019, finishing third behind the incumbent and Chakwera.Â
The Perilous Pursuit of a Better Life: Tragedy Strikes Migrants off Yemen's Coast
At least 49 people from the Horn of Africa have lost their lives after their boat capsized off the coast of Yemen. According to survivors, the vessel, which was carrying 260 migrants, fell victim to strong winds on Monday.
As the search for the 140 missing people continues, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is providing aid to 71 survivors, eight of whom were referred to hospital.Â
Local authorities in Rudum, east of Aden, have confirmed that those on board were migrants, mostly from Ethiopia, who were using Yemen as a transit point to reach Gulf states.Â
In a statement on Tuesday, IOM spokesman Mohammedali Abunajela emphasized the urgent need to work together to address migration challenges.Â
According to the UN, 97,000 migrants arrived in Yemen from the Horn of Africa last year, despite the ongoing war and recent Houthi assaults on ships in the Red Sea. This tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the desperate lengths people will go to in search of a better life.Â
Food for Thought
“A doctor who invoked a storm on his people cannot prevent his house from destruction."
— Nigerian Proverb