Karakuta Unveils Avocado Mega Packhouse
Karakuta Unveils Avocado Mega Packhouse
7,500-Tonne Facility to Boost Exports and Support Smallholder Farmers
Karakuta Fresh Produce has launched a 7,500-tonne packhouse to grade and pack avocados grown on its 180-acre farm and produce aggregated from 1,500 smallholder farmers.
Equity Group CEO Dr. James Mwangi and Karakuta CEO Grace Ngungi unveiled the facility at a ceremony attended by officials from the Spanish Embassy, government agencies, and avocado value chain associations.
Backing by Equity, Israel, and Spain
Dr. Mwangi praised the packhouse as a result of bold leadership and strategic partnerships. He commended Karakuta’s collaboration with Equity for financing, Israel for the packing technology, and Spain as a key export market. “Grace is a serious investor. This packhouse shows how dreams can come true through partnerships,” he said.
The facility houses one of 52 packing machines in Kenya, 48 of which are Eshel Eilon models imported from Israel and financed by Equity Bank.
Ensuring Quality and Expanding Market Access
Dr. Christine Chesaro from the Horticultural Crops Directorate urged producers to tap into emerging markets while maintaining high quality. She noted that machines like Karakuta’s help ensure consistency.
Avocado Exporters Association CEO Joseph Wagurah echoed the same, noting that 70% of Kenya’s avocados come from smallholder farmers. Grouping these farmers, he said, helps manage planting, spraying, and residue levels to meet market standards.
Karakuta Unveils Avocado Mega Packhouse
A Woman-Led Success Story
Grace Ngungi shared how she ventured into the male-dominated avocado industry to make an impact. She started with a model farm to address challenges in quality and consistency and later scaled up by integrating smallholder farmers.
Karakuta now works with thousands of avocado farmers from Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, and Meru. Aggregators use social capital to ensure trust, inputs, and quality production for export markets.
Driving Growth and Transforming Lives
Grace described the packhouse as more than a facility — it’s a platform transforming the lives of thousands who rely on it. “Equity believed in us. Now farmers see this as theirs too. Buyers abroad are competing for our produce. We represent the industrialisation Kenya and Africa need,” she said.
Dr. Mwangi noted Karakuta’s exponential growth — from 8 containers in its first year to 18 in the second, with a target of 60 by 2025. “Like Equity, Karakuta is about transforming lives, giving dignity, and creating wealth. Grace shows women are bankable and unstoppable,” he said.
Value Addition at the Core of Equity’s Vision
Dr. Mwangi emphasized the need for more value addition in agriculture. Through its Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, Equity aims to grow its food and agriculture loan mix to 30%, and manufacturing and logistics loans to 15%.
“In 2018, only 3% of our loan book was in agriculture. Now it’s 16%. This journey is about more than boosting production — it’s about unlocking value,” he said. “Karakuta’s journey shows how support and ambition can change lives. Equity is ready to walk this path with others too.”
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