Avocado is well-loved globally as it adds a unique flavor to many dishes. Moreover, it has a mild flavor on its own. More people are starting to discover the amazing nutritional properties of avocado. This has led to a significant rise in demand for the fruit.
Why Avocados Thrive in Tanzania
Avocado is becoming a top cash crop in Tanzania. It was first commercially grown in 2007 according to a joint report by the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade (MIT) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Actually, the first avocado exports were in 2014 according to the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA).
Tanzania’s physical geography and climate make it a favorable place for growing delicious avocados. It experiences a sub-tropical climate in the central and western parts but its hot and humid along the coast. Much of the country experiences two rainy seasons with one being longer than the other. The other avocado growing conditions in Tanzania are:
- South western and North East areas are at an altitude of 1500m-2100m above sea level.
- South western and North East areas enjoy 1000mm-1600mm of rainfall that is well distributed throughout the year.
- South western and North East areas experience temperatures as low as 20°C and as high as 30°C.
- South western and North East areas have at least 6 hours of sunshine per day.
- South western and North East areas have medium sandy or loam soils with a pH of 5-6.
The biggest avocado producing areas in Tanzania are in fertile plains because the central part of the country is a large plateau. Additionally, avocado trees are quickly being cultivated in places surrounding Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Rungwe. Areas under huge avocado cultivation are:
- Siha
- Mbeya
- Iringa
- Njombe
- Songwe
- Arusha
The three major groups of avocado can all be found in Tanzania. Although, hybrids of the Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indian races are the most common in the country. There are more than 10 avocado varieties grown in Tanzania according to the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). Some of them include:
- Hass
- Fuerte
- Pinkerton
- X-Ikulu
- Booth 7
Even with many avocado cultivars available in Tanzania, only a few of them are grown commercially. While Hass and Fuerte are mainly grown for export, the other types are grown for the domestic market. Here are some of the most common avocado varieties in Tanzania with their characteristics:
Hass Avocado
- It has a rich, nutty flavor with buttery, creamy texture
- Its skin turns from green to purplish-black when ripe
- It is an oval-shaped fruit with rough, pebbly skin
- It is a medium to large fruit (140g–336g)
- It takes less time to mature
Fuerte Avocado
- It is a pear-shaped fruit with a smooth, leathery skin that is easy to peel
- Its skin remains green even when ripe
- It is a medium to large fruit (140g–392g)
- It has a rich, oily, creamy texture
Pinkerton Avocado
- Its a pear-shaped fruit with an elongated neck
- It has a medium thick, slightly pebbled skin that is easy to peel
- Its skin remains green even when ripe
- It is a large fruit (227g-510g)
- It has a smooth, creamy texture with a nutty flavor
Avocado season in Tanzania kicks in March up to May for Hass in the Southern Highlands zone while the Fuerte variety is ready for harvest from February up to September. Whereas, in the Northern zone, Hass is available from June up to September. Low season in Tanzania is between December and January.
The Economics of Avocado Farming in Tanzania
An avocado tree fully matures after five to seven years. A well maintained avocado tree can produce a harvest of about 500 fruits. The standard density planting in Tanzania is 82 trees per acre.
Avocado farmers in Tanzania are reaping big as farm gate prices have been on the rise in recent years. Prices range depending on the type, size and supply. The average wholesale price for either Hass or Fuerte avocados is about 1,000 Tanzanian Shillings per kg. Other varieties fetch lower wholesale prices between 700 Tanzanian Shillings and 1,000 Tanzanian Shillings.
Fuerte is currently the most profitable avocado variety in Tanzania. This is because majority of new plantings are Hass which are yet to come into full production. Taking into account 41,000 fruits, let us calculate the wholesale price of each fruit at 300 Tanzanian Shillings. The total expected return from one acre after five years is just above 12 million Tanzanian Shillings.
Production Volume of Avocados in Tanzania
In a few years, avocado production in Tanzania has expanded rapidly. However, there is no consistent data from the government on the total avocado production in the country. This is because district councils report differently from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other government sources.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country produced about 25,000 tons of avocado in 2012. It also reports an increase from 7,500 tons produced in 2009. Based on this trend, the number of avocados produced in Tanzania is expected to keep going up in the coming years.
Tanzania’s Avocado Market Report 2023
Tanzania is among the top 5 largest exporting countries in Africa. It is usually among the main avocado exporters in the world. Aside from that, more countries are opening up to avocados from Tanzania.
Here are biggest importers of Tanzania avocados in 2023 with their import volume.
Over the past decade, avocado exports from Tanzania have enjoyed steady growth. In 2023, Tanzania shipped out around 25000 tons of avocado. It is an increase of 34% from the previous year.
Here is the export volume of avocados from Tanzania between 2012 and 2023.
Exports of avocado from Tanzania were valued at 25 million US Dollars in 2023. Compared to the previous year, it is an increase of 19%. The sharpest climb was from 2018 to 2019 when the export value rose from about 1.9 million US Dollars to around 9 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in export of avocados from Tanzania between 2012 and 2023.
Exporting Avocados from Kenya
Here is a top avocado exporter in Kenya.
Freshela Exporters
Freshela is a Kenyan based company that engages in the sourcing, processing and exporting of avocados and other fresh produce.
Freshela is a proud exporter of Kenyan avocados. We source avocados from our company farm and partner farms.
We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.
We use a modern grading machine to achieve desired avocado weight. The fruit is also graded to eliminate any with physical quality defects.
We pack avocado fruit for both air and sea freights. All of our avocado packing is approved by FDA and is certified by HACCP Quality Assurance.