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Samuel Kadungure Mutare Bureau
GOVERNMENT, through the Command Horticulture initiative, seeks to promote commercial growing of superior taste and quality avocados, with a goal to become one of the world’s top avocado suppliers.
The new initiative, revealed by Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Dr Joseph Made is expected to improve access to planting materials, technical research and extension services, including postharvest provision of marketing information, and logistics support to ensure the delivery of high-quality produce.
Dr Made said demand for the fruit had grown worldwide in recent years, because of avocados’ high levels of Vitamin E, iron, potassium and niacin making it a favourite for fitness gurus and the health conscious.
The European Union market accounts for a third of global imports of avocados. Zimbabwe is yet to fully explore new opportunities in Asiatic countries.
The country’s avocado exports increased by 400 percent from US$177 000 in 2012 to US$710 000 in 2014 driven mainly by large-scale avocado producers from plantations in Manicaland Prov- ince.
Dr Made said farmers who invested in avocado orchards years ago would reap the rewards as the industry was enjoying an exceptionally profitable phase with global prices riding on the crest of Chinese demand.
Dr Made said the thrust by Government was being driven by China’s soaring appetite for locally produced avocados.
China has little experience in commercial avocado growing and imports dominate its the market.
Globally, avocado prices are rising steeply and quickly due to increasing demand.
“Avocados from Zimbabwe are being sought after worldwide and what is required is to commercialise our production to come up with the critical market to sustain global demand.
“What is also critical is to ensure that farmers know the on-demand varieties. Focus should be on producing appropriate varieties,” said Dr Made.
Manicaland is better placed to produce high-quality avocado because the variety produced in the region has high concentration of oil and wax.
The butter fruit has become the dominant crop for smallholder farmers in Honde Valley and given the large number of young trees yet to come into production, the industry has tremendous growth and development potential.
Dr Made said avocados had the potential to quickly become an important crop and the fastest growing tree crop industry in the country if taken seriously. “Every household has an avocado tree in Zimbabwe and you can imagine the potential.
“Currently, Manicaland is dominating the volumes. Manicaland is unique, it has natural regions One to Five, and the focus really should be on appropriate varieties that are on demand in China, Russia, India, the Arab world and other European markets.
“Avocados and other commodities such as apples, peaches, coffee, tea and macadamia nuts are only grown in Manicaland, so our farmers must intensify operations and maximise out of this opportunity. We cannot fail to reach the critical mass and farmers should start to get information on the different varieties required for export,” said Dr Made.
Zimbabwe has an edge over other African countries given its clean and non-GMO agricultural environment.
“The taste in Europe is moving away from food with synthetic fertilisers towards organic products. We want a combination of organically produced products for the export market,” said Dr Made.
Avocados are rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, while the oil content consists of polyunsaturated fatty acids and are a considerable percentage of the daily nutrient requirements and make an important contribution to a balanced diet.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter