Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:09:01 +0000
By Mailesi Banda
FAMERS have been advised to venture into avocado growing to increase production and meet the demand for export to South Africa which has shown interest in the crop.
Avocado Growers Association chairperson Smart Lungu said there was vast potential in the growing of the advanced Hass avocado variety which took four years to mature and produced fruits throughout the year.
He said currently the country had the potential to export 2,000 tonnes of avocadoes per year adding the situation would improve to over 40,000 tonnes in the next two years.
Mr Lungu said that negotiations with the South African market had reached an advanced stage with the parties discussing the prices they would offload the commodity to that market.
“Zambia can initially export 2,000 tonnes per annum and this crop is already there. Our projection however for the next two years is to be able to increase production to 40,000 tonnes, “he said.
Mr Lungu said they hoped to finish negotiations with the South African buyers by December to secure a market for what had been produced.
He explained that the advanced variety had proven to be a good crop adding that since the crops matured fast the farmers had managed to make sustainable income from their crops.
Mr Lungu said that more than 220 farmers were expected to benefit from the export of the Hass avocado which will be exported to South Africa.
Mr. Lungu said they had received an inquiry from South Africa asking them to supply the fruit to that country and that with the current 2,000 tonne capacity they would manage to meet the demand.
He however lamented that they were not getting a good price for the avocado on the local market.
