Avocado has soared in popularity because it is an excellent source of multiple nutrients. This creamy fruit is full of vitamins, minerals and fiber that support physical health. As a result, people have come up with many delicious ways to enjoy avocado.
Why Avocados Thrive in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is finding a move to avocado growing to be more profitable than its traditional crops. It was first grown by private orchard owners in 1938 according to a report by the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). The researcher also found that since the 1980s, the Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC) has helped the spread of avocado to various regions in the country.
Ethiopia’s physical geography and climate make it a favorable place for growing tasty avocados. It experiences a sub-tropical climate in the southern parts due to its nearness to the equator. Except the east and southeast parts, much of the country experiences high humidity and abundant rainfall. The other avocado growing conditions in Ethiopia are:
- South and southwestern areas are at an altitude of 1500m-2100m above sea level.
- South and southwestern areas enjoy 1000mm-1600mm of rainfall that is well distributed throughout the year.
- South and southwestern areas experience temperatures as low as 20°C and as high as 30°C.
- South and southwestern areas have at least 6 hours of sunshine per day.
- South and southwestern areas have medium sandy or loam soils with a pH of 5-6.
The biggest avocado producing areas in Ethiopia are in fertile plains known as southern highlands. Additionally, avocado trees are quickly being cultivated in places surrounding the Ethiopian Highlands which cover the central and north. Areas under huge avocado cultivation are:
- Sidama
- Woyalita
- Jimma
- Mizan Teferi
- West Hararghe
- Oromia
The three major groups of avocado can all be found in Ethiopia. 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 Ethiopia according to EIAR. Some of them include:
- Hass
- Fuerte
- Ettinger
- Bacon
- Pinkerton
Many avocado cultivars in Ethiopia are local. However, improved cultivars are the ones 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 Ethiopia 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
Ettinger Avocado
- Its a pear-shaped fruit with a smooth, thin skin
- Its bright green skin does not peel easily
- Its skin remains green even when ripe
- It is a large fruit (283g-567g)
- Its pale green flesh has a mild flavor
The month of June marks the start of avocado season in Ethiopia. The season winds down in September. There are plans to supply both the international and domestic markets with Ethiopian avocados from March to May as other production regions come up.
The Economics of Avocado Farming in Ethiopia
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 Ethiopia is 400 trees per hectare.
Avocado farmers in Ethiopia 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 Hass avocado is between 10 Ethiopian Birr and 20 Ethiopian Birr per kg. Green skin and local varieties fetch lower wholesale prices between 1 Ethiopian Birr and 10 Ethiopian Birr per kg.
Hass is the most profitable avocado variety in Ethiopia. Taking into account 200,000 fruits, let us calculate the wholesale price of each Hass fruit at 5 Ethiopian Birr. The total expected return from one hectare after five years is 1 million Ethiopian Birr.
Production Volume of Avocados in Ethiopia
In a few years, avocado production in Ethiopia has expanded rapidly. However, there is no consistent data from the government on the total avocado production in the country. Figures from the agricultural sample survey report by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA) are yet to be released.
Additionally, there is no consistent data from the government on the total percentage of land area under avocado cultivation. Whereas large scale producers are increasing acreage with avocado, smallholder growers are forming co-operatives so as to do cluster farming. Based on this trend, the number of avocados produced in Ethiopia is expected to keep going up in the coming years.
One of the biggest avocado production ventures in Ethiopia is a project dubbed Smallholder Horticulture Project (SHP). SHP, which is supported by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture, USAID and Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) is giving avocado farmers a chance to produce for export.
Ethiopia’s Avocado Market Report 2023
Ethiopia is among the top 10 largest exporting countries in Africa. It is emerging as a main avocado exporter in the world. Aside from that, more countries are opening up to avocados from Ethiopia.
Here are biggest importers of Ethiopia avocados in 2021 with their import volume.
Over the past decade, avocado exports from Ethiopia have enjoyed steady growth. In 2021, Ethiopia shipped out just above 3,000 tons of avocado. It is an increase of 10% from the previous year.
Here is the export volume of avocados from Ethiopia between 2012 and 2021.
Exports of avocado from Ethiopia were valued at just above 1 million US Dollars in 2021. Compared to the previous year, it is an increase of 11%. The sharpest climb was from 2014 to 2015 when the export value rose from about 1,000 US Dollars to around 18,000 US Dollars.
Here are the total values in export of avocados from Ethiopia between 2012 and 2021.
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.