Kenyan aloe vera gel battles for local acceptance

Kenyan farmers say they are finding it difficult to market their aloe vera gel against imported gel from South Africa and Brazil that have dominated the skin and beauty care products market for the past two decades. Manufacturers have maintained their preference for imported gel, citing quality and pricing concerns.

Mr. Gerald Thuo of Kieni Aloe Vera Growers Association, a farmers organisation with more than 300 members, said farmers face collapse at the hands of cheap imports and urged manufacturers to give them a chance. He said manufacturers have refused to take up the local produce despite the growers having partnered with the University of Nairobi to improve the purification of their products as well as getting Kenya Bureau of Standards quality certification.

Inability to sell the gel has seen the group's stock of aloe gel pile up in its stores, leading to fears of possible total loss.

Mr. Joseph Macharia, the production manager at Interconsumer Products Limited, manufacturers of body lotion, said the slow pace of chemical verification and certification is to blame for the reluctance of local manufacturers to buy locally-produced aloe gel. "Kenya Bureau of Standards takes too long to verify the product," he said.

Besides, Macharia said, most manufacturers have specific parameters for the raw materials that many farmers have been unable to meet. "Our inclination is actually to build a local aloe very industry to reduce our dependence on imports," he said.

Business Daily