With an agronomic landscape characterized by minimal commercial avocado production, Namibia witnessed an uptick in avocado imports, reaching 889 tonnes valued at over N$16.4 million in the last quarter of the previous year. This represents a significant increase from the 756 tonnes, worth N$14.5 million, imported in 2022. The Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) highlighted in its market intelligence report the country's negligible production levels, with a mere 0.87 tonnes produced during the 2021/22 period, underscoring the growing demand for this high-value crop within the Namibian fruit consumption mix. Despite having 201 avocado trees primarily in the Kavango and Karst zones, local output remains insufficient, with annual imports of 1,200 avocado seedlings failing to bolster domestic production significantly.
The NAB's insights suggest a latent capacity for increasing local avocado production to mitigate heavy reliance on imports, which surpassed N$16 million last year. The report advocates for the cultivation of heat-resistant varieties like Hass and Fuerte, alongside exploring Pinkerton, Lamb Hass, and Reed types, to leverage the subtropical climatic conditions of the Kavango and Zambezi zones. These areas are deemed suitable for expanding avocado cultivation, potentially curbing the prevailing import dependence. The NAB encourages local farmers to engage in avocado production and to seek support from government bodies, aiming to enhance the fruit industry's development through strategic partnerships and tapping into existing trade agreements for export opportunities.
[ N$1 = €0.05 ]
Source: neweralive.na