BUTTER FRUIT BOOM: Tanzania eyes $700M in avocado export earnings by 2030

April 6, 2025

3 minutes read

SUNDAY April 6, 2025

The Agricultural Minister, Mr Hussein Bashe, clarifies something to TAHA CEO, Dr Jacqueline Mkindi, shortly after the inaugural National Avocado Conference 2025 held in the Tanzania’s Capaital City of Dodoma. PHOTOS | COURTESY

By Adam Ihucha

The Tranquility News Correspondent, Tanzania

The avocado industry is on track to dramatically outpace the government’s agricultural growth targets, according to a prominent horticulture expert.

While the ambitious 20/30 agenda aims to boost annual avocado yields to 250,000 metric tons, industry projections suggest that current trends could propel production of the creamy, nutrient-rich fruit to 923,620 tons by 2030—far exceeding the goal and potentially transforming the industry.

The Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA), under its motto of “private sector-led and government-enabled,” is confident that by 2030, the horticultural industry will surpass its overarching target of generating $2 billion in revenue.

“Within this, the avocado industry alone is forecasted to contribute $714 million in the 2030/2031 season, driven by an export volume of 923,620 tons” TAHA CEO, Dr. Jacqueline Mkindi told a maiden National Avocado Conference 2025.

Presenting her paper titled “Marketing Dynamics and Strategic Investment in the Avocado Industry,” Dr. Mkindi highlighted the industry’s rapid growth.

The TAHA CEO, Dr Jacqueline Mkindi, presents a paper at a maiden National Avocado Conference 2025 held in Dodoma, Tanzania.

Looking further ahead to 2035/2036, she said, revenue from avocados is expected to surge to $2.8 billion, with exports reaching 2.29 million tons,

Tanzania is enjoying an extraordinary boom in avocado exports, which have soared by 74 percent in recent years.

She noted that exports rose from 15,432 tons in 2021 to 26,826 tons in 2023, boosting revenue from $44,3 million to $77.3 million over the same period. For the 2023/2024 season, TAHA projects exports will climb to 31,950 tons, as production set to be 195,000 metric tons.

Dr. Mkindi also underscored the global context of this growth. In 2013, the worldwide avocado trade was valued at $2.39 billion; by 2023, it had ballooned to $7.3 billion.

Tanzania’s avocado production has mirrored this upward trajectory, growing at an impressive rate of 20 percent annually over the past five years.

A panel in progress during the first National Avocado Conference 2025 held in Dodoma, Tanzania, recently.

Key export markets are fueling this expansion. Europe leads the way, accounting for 40 percent of Tanzania’s avocado sales, followed by India at 30 percent and the Middle East at 19 percent.
The remaining 11 percent is distributed across emerging markets such as China, South Africa, and Kenya.

With strategic investments and robust market demand, Tanzania’s avocado industry is poised to become a global powerhouse, surpassing expectations and driving economic growth.

TAHA has made substantial investments to establish new value chains, focusing on macadamia, oranges, and sweet melon.

Additionally, TAHA has built strategic partnerships with governmental bodies, primarily the Ministry of Agriculture via the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA), and various regional trade associations like the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA), East African Business Council (EABC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the Eastern African Community (EAC) Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA).

These collaborations aim to improve information access and drive market development.

The Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority Director General, Ms Irene Madeje (Left), closely follows up on the proceedings of the National Avocado Conference 2025 held for the first time in Dodoma, Tanzania, along with the TAHA CEO, Dr Jacqueline Mkindi (On Her Left).

To enhance market reach and secure a significant share of produce and brand recognition, TAHA is redefining its strategies by forming lasting relationships with global distributors, including Westfalia, Mr. Avocado, and HL Hall & Sons, to capture substantial market positions in India and China.

TAHA has also forged strategic alliances with embassies and international organizations to strengthen its efforts.

COPRA’s Director General, Irine Mlola Madeje, highlighted the role of accessing new markets in China, India, and the UAE, alongside increased infrastructure—comprising four avocado oil factories, collection centers in two districts, and three packaging facilities—in raising yields from 50kg to 180kg per tree.

Through the “Farmer to Farmer” program, 2,620 acres across seven regions have been dedicated to avocado cultivation.

The establishment of COPRA has strengthened the coordination, management, and development of horticultural products. Ms. Madeje said that these have been advanced through a Public Private Sector Partnership (PPP).

A section of participants in the National Avocado Conference 2025, mostly the value chain players, pose for a group picture.

The inaugural National Avocado Conference 2025 coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, through COPRA in collaboration with TAHA, would be an annual convention dedicated to chart out strategies to unlock avocado industryΩ