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Agriculture Specialist Writer
AVOCADO export volumes surged 38 percent from three million kilogrammes in the first half of 2022 to 4,5 million kilogrammes during the corresponding period this year with earnings also recording a 10 percent rise from US$1 498 363 to US$1 647 462.
Statistics availed by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) show that avocado export volumes increased from 3 245 196 to 4 480 426kg.
The average price, however, took a 20 percent dip from US$0,46 to US$0,37 per kilogramme. Avocados are exported fresh or dried.
Over the past three years the volume of avocado exports has been on an upward trend from five to nine million kilogrammes.
The local horticulture promotion board, Horticultural Development Council (HDC) corroborated the statistics in its quarterly seasonal report for June saying they were expecting the volume to increase from 5 180 tonnes last year to 5 500 tonnes this year.
“Due to the large volumes of 5 180 tonnes exported last year, producers are reporting that they are experiencing an ‘off’ season for the year 2023 not only here in Zimbabwe but in South Africa. We still expect to see Zimbabwe exporting around 5 500 tonnes for 2023 and this does not include factory grade fruit,” said the seasonal report.
The seasonal report said there had not been any substantial growth in the sector over the last season with hectarages still remaining the same at 1 260 and many plantations still to come into production though a steady growth in production was expected in the short term.
“Early market access has seen some producers fetching high prices but as usual those prices get heavily eroded once Peru starts pushing its heavy volumes into the EU market. This will see a sharp decline in returns and producers will be encouraged to temporarily halt picking until the market situation improves,” continued the report.
The HDC set a US$1 billion horticulture export industry by 2030 at its inaugural investment conference in 2021, which can only be attained through an annual 30 percent growth.
An analysis of the avocado season shows that over the years, much of the produce was exported in the second and third quarter of the year. With figures for July, August and September still to come the exported avocado volume is likely to shoot past the HDC projection.
The Government developed the Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan (HRGP) in 2020 to spearhead the conventional and rural horticulture transformation plan. The overall purpose of the HRGP is to guide and support the revival of the conventional horticulture industry by providing a relevant and evidence-based framework to guide and coordinate the development of commodity-specific strategies, projects and programmes as well as to stimulate a transformative rural horticulture sub-sector under the Presidential Horticulture Scheme covering all 1, 8 million rural households.
Last year the Government introduced a US$30 million horticulture export revolving fund to spur growth in addition to other incentives such as suspension of duty on agriculture capital equipment (S.I. 6 of 2016), anchor farmer incentive, value added tax (VAT) zero rating of farm inputs, joint venture and increased foreign currency account (FCA) retention from 60 to 75 percent.
Online Reporter