Organic Avocado Farming in Zimbabwe – Certification, Rules and Standards

Zimbabwe’s future in organic avocado production looks bright. This is because more people in the country are being lured into organic avocado farming. Not only does this kind of farming offer good profits to the farmer but it also improves soil quality hence sustaining regular production for years to come.

Organic Avocado Farming Practices in Zimbabwe

Organic avocado growers in Zimbabwe build on cultural practices that limit the need for external and off-farm inputs. They have to grow avocados in plenty while following natural soil nutrient and water processes. Here are some of these practices.

Soil Management

Healthy soil is crucial for organic avocado production. This kind of soil is teeming with microorganisms and small creatures resulting in high organic matter. Clearly, the more organic matter, the healthier the soil is.

An avocado farm will bear abundant fruit only on healthy soil. Farmers in Zimbabwe who are bent towards organic avocado cultivation know the usefulness of soil organisms. They know that no matter the size, these organisms are useful in ways such as:

• Earthworms, mites, bacteria, fungi release mineral nutrients through decomposition, create loose soil structure and mix soil for aeration.
• Some fungi grow in and around plant roots, mining subsoil for nutrients and water.
• Other microorganisms prevent diseases and help trees withstand insect attacks.

Compost

Organic avocado farmers in Zimbabwe rely on inputs like compost. Materials around the farm such as food waste, manure, leaves, straw, grass clippings, sawdust make up compost. Even though these materials are seen as waste, when mixed and allowed to decompose above the ground, create valuable compost. Composting is good for avocado trees because:

• It improves soil structure
• It provides a diversity of microorganisms and nutrients
• It increases pest tolerance
• It leads to elevated yields

Cover Crops

Since avocado orchards in Zimbabwe draw nutrients out of the soil, those nutrients have to be replenished so as to maintain a bountiful yield. As a result, those in Zimbabwe who tend to their organic avocado farms plant cover crops like legumes around the trees to improve soil fertility. Cover cropping also helps with weed control.

Mulching

Considering that avocado trees have a number of surface roots, mulching is beneficial. It is for this reason that people in Zimbabwe who labor to produce organic avocado from their farms, apply mulch made up wood chips, straw, hay and clean farm waste. This mulch helps conserve water, increases soil microorganisms and decreases chances of root disease.

Weed Management

Zimbabwean avocado farmers who have gone the organic way do their best to keep their orchards free of weeds by:

• Mulching
• Mechanical methods like pulling
• Cover cropping creates competition with weeds for nutrients
• Composting destroys seeds of weeds

Pest and Disease Management

Organic avocado producers in Zimbabwe employ alternative strategies to reduce and control pests without the use of synthetic pesticides. This involves utilizing various tools instead of one in an approach known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Organic pest management in Zimbabwe includes:

• Using naturally-derived substances like neem oil, natural pyrethrum, vinegar, oil-based herbicides as a last resort
• Using biological substances like Trichoderma harzianum against root rot, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) against pests and approved amount of copper spray against certain diseases
• Biological controls such as wild flowers, insects like ladybugs, predatory mites, wasps, hover flies
• Mechanical controls like trapping

Irrigation

Orchardists in Zimbabwe who specialize in organic avocado, use drip irrigation especially during dry seasons to minimize weed growth. They also maintain a mulch layer around trees so as to prevent big fluctuations in soil moisture. They take extra care to ensure irrigation is neither over nor under done.

Other organic avocado management practices in Zimbabwe are:

• Using disease tolerant rootstocks like Dusa and varieties like Hass
• Plating trees on ridges or mounds
• Maintaining drainage channels in the orchard
• Applying rock dust for soil calcium
• Applying compost tea
• Applying liquid fertilizers like sea weed extract
• Applying minerals like dolomite, lime, gypsum, potassium sulphate in powder form
• No plant growth regulators (PGRs) are allowed

Benefits of Organic Avocado Farming in Zimbabwe

Here are some of the benefits of growing organic avocados in Zimbabwe:

1. It eliminates the threat of toxic chemicals on fruit
2. It conserves and builds soil health
3. It preserves and increases biodiversity which supports a healthy ecosystem
4. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions
5. It reduces water and air pollution
6. Farmers can earn a higher profit because healthier trees bear better yields

How to Become a Certified Avocado Farmer in Zimbabwe

There are two kinds of organic avocado orchards in Zimbabwe. While certified organic farms produce avocados for domestic and export markets, informal organic farms produce avocados for subsistence and local markets. Here are the steps to get organic certification in Zimbabwe:

1. Adopt organic practices, select an accredited certifying agent and submit an application and fee to the agent.
2. Certifying agent reviews the application and verifies compliance with the Zimbabwe Organic Standards
3. Inspector conducts an on-site inspection.
4. Certifying agent reviews application and inspector’s report.
5. Organic certificate issued by certifying agent

Once a producer is certified organic, they can either use the ZOPPA Trust logo or the certifying body’s logo for labelling of packaged avocados.

EU Organic Standards for Avocado

Here are a number of rules set by the EU that organic avocados grown in Zimbabwe have to meet:

• Their production has to follow the general principles of organic production
• Their production should exclude use of GMOs
• Avocados produced organically should be kept separate from non-organic ones
• Adequate record keeping during production especially use of permissible chemical substances in limited cases.

Importing Organic Products into the EU

All organic products including avocado imported into the European Union (EU) must have a certificate of inspection. This certificate is issued by a control body or authority approved by the EU. This control body ensures organic avocado producers follow production rules equivalent to EU organic farming.

Where to Sell Organic Zimbabwe Avocado

Avocados which are sold to Zimbabweans as organic are certified by local certification companies. Whereas international certification bodies certify Zimbabwe avocados that are organic to be sold abroad. In both the domestic and export markets, organic Zimbabwe avocados can be found in supermarkets and shops specializing in organic products in cities and high-end neighborhoods.

Here is a top organic avocado exporter

Freshela Exporters

Our efforts to supply the market with organic avocados have led us to align ourselves with farmers that share the same values. With their support and our continued organic planting, we are committed to carrying the highest quality organic avocados available for the market.

No matter how big or small your organic avocado needs are, we know we can help increase your demand for organic avocados. Our packing house is certified to ensure that we accept, pack and sell avocados with an organic label. Contact us to request a copy of our Organic Production Certificate.