Zimbabwe’s avocado picking season is underway; local growers are targeting to export about 5,000 tons of the fruit this year. In Zimbabwe, avocados are being commercially grown in the Eastern Highlands, with export prospects to the rest of Africa, Europe and Asia, according to ZimTrade, the country’s export trade promotion body. The southern African country is the fifth largest exporter of avocados in Africa.
“Zimbabwe avocado picking season is now well underway, with the estimated export targets of 5,000 tons well in our sights,” said the Zimbabwe Avocado Growers Association (Zaga) in an industry update. “With nearly 1 000 containers, mainly from Peru on the water, which is expected to reach the European Union in the next week or so, avocado supply will be extremely high and this will undoubtedly put pressure on pricing going forward.”
ZAGA, however, said the rise in the cost of fuel has already had a negative impact on viability as the knock on effect on fertilizer prices for the next season can be felt by producers countrywide with some fertilizer prices having increased by 40% over the previous season.
Source: newsday.co.zw