Zimbabwe enjoys a subtropical climate that is suitable for avocado production. The Eastern Highlands, stretching from Nyanga in the north up to Chimanimani in the south, receive over 1000mm of rainfall per year. This region has deep, well-drained loam soils and the average annual temperature is 20°C.
The Horticultural Development Council (HDC) says avocado is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors in the horticulture sector. Avocado production in Zimbabwe is dominated by large-scale producers but the number of small-scale producers is gaining fast. The average size of land owned by smallholder farmers is from one to five hectares.
Avocado Growing Regions in Zimbabwe
Avocado growing is concentrated in Manicaland province, Eastern Zimbabwe. Chipinge district is the heart of commercial avocado production. Other potential avocado growing areas are Harare province and Chimanimani district in Manicaland province.
Avocado Plantation in Zimbabwe
Large-scale avocado farming is more common in Zimbabwe. Large-scale producers are few and have around 50 hectares under avocado trees. The biggest avocado producer owns around 448 hectares. In 2019, the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) partnered with a one of the leading agricultural companies in Zimbabwe to start developing close to 200 hectares of avocado plantation.
Growing Avocados in Zimbabwe
Most of the smallholder avocado farmers in Zimbabwe are engaged in an outgrower scheme with a large-scale producer. This means that commercial producers also source Hass avocados from them for the purpose of selling in markets overseas. The other small-scale farmers sell their produce in the domestic market.
Avocados can grow in several parts of Zimbabwe. Here are some reasons why:
- The lower-lying valleys of the Eastern Highlands have an altitude range between 1,500m and 1,900ms.l.
- Regions like Harare province receive at least eight hours of sunlight
- The government of Zimbabwe begun the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes in 2021
The scale and nature of farming determines the cost of production per hectare in Zimbabwe. Organic avocado farming is more cost effective than conventional farming because farmyard manure is cheaper than chemical fertilizers. Biological, cultural and mechanical methods of pest and disease control are also cheaper than use of pesticides and fungicides. Avocado farming in Zimbabwe is profitable after the fifth or sixth year when the trees are more mature and yielding their second harvest.
Smallholder avocado farmers in Zimbabwe with access to irrigation systems during the dry season are able to produce and sell in the local market. Most of their avocados are sold in the informal markets while a few are contracted to supply formal markets such as retailers, hotels, schools. More small-scale farmers are going for contract farming as they see it as being more stable and profitable.
The informal markets are dominated by middlemen who visit farms to buy avocados at the gate. Other farmers sell their produce directly to wholesalers or consumers so as to avoid the low farm gate prices set by middlemen. There are less strict quality standards for avocados sold in the local market.
The number of small-scale avocado producers in Zimbabwe forming farmers’ associations is growing steadily. Here are some benefits of these farmers’ associations:
- They reduce transaction costs of buying seedlings and other inputs
- They make marketing of their avocados easier
- Access to capital for farmers in associations is faster
- They can also invest in facilities like packhouses and cold storages
Benefits of Avocado Farming in Zimbabwe
- Avocado farming has increased the tree cover in Zimbabwe.
- Avocado trees can be planted alongside crops such as beans, peas, cabbage. This helps farmers to grow more crops using less land while conserving the environment.
- Planting avocado trees together with keeping bees for pollination promotes biodiversity.