The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, has welcomed the agreement with the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Wang Yi (on behalf of Chinese Agriculture Minister Tang Ranijan) for the export of avocado to the People’s Republic of China.
Nkosi Mandela said this is an important step towards the achievement of the goals outlined in the National Development Plan and a number of Master Plans in the Agriculture and Agri industries sector.
According to the South African Avocado Growers' Association (SAAG), the estimated 3-year average annual avocado production in South Africa is 139 400 tons and 45 percent of which is exported fresh to Europe and the United Kingdom. The 2023 avocado tree census by SAAG estimates the area under commercial production at 19 500 hectares, expanding at a rate of approximately 800 hectares per annum.
Source: polity.org.za