AVOCADOS: TOWARDS RURAL ECONOMIC EMANCIPATION AND HEALTHY AGROECOLOGY

By Uche Isieke


The avocado, otherwise known as Persea Americana, is an indigenous tree originally grown in South Central Mexico. It is classified as a member of the flowering plant family ( Lauraceae). The fruit is called an avocado pear or alligator pear, a low berry with a single large seed.

Avocados are commercially valuable and are cultivated in tropical climate throughout the world. It has some potential health benefits such as enhanced digestion, reducing the risk of depression and protection against cancer.

It is known for its natural high nutrient density with over 20 vitamins and minerals.
An orchard can create jobs by demanding labour, packaging, operations, transportation, and marketing.

Avocados are a nutrient-dense food and are high in insoluble fibre as well as potassium, the vitamin B and vitamin E, magnesium and folate.

According to Global Avocado Market report 2020, the market is valued at  $11, 880 billion ( dollars) this year is expected to rise to $15billion by the end of 2026, growing at a cumulative amount growth rate of 3.3 per cent during 2020-2026. The demand for avocados is strong and keeps growing. This portends good news for local farmers. The top importers are the United States, Netherlands, Germany and France.

Presently, there are 11 countries leading to the production of avocados. These include Mexico, Colombia, Kenya, Indonesia, Venezuela, China, Dominican Republic, Peru and Israel.

With Mexico, Peru and the Netherlands leading in the export market.
According to Fact MR, a market-based research firm, the application of avocado extract remains highly consolidated in the food and beverage industry, with it's estimated  approximately 35 per cent of extract application in 2019. The research showed the growing consumer preference for natural ( organic)  ingredients in food products and clean label trend, were some factors fueling the utilization of avocado extracts in the industry.

The study further revealed that the consumption rate of avocado among the pharmaceutical sector is expected to grow at 7.1 per cent.


In Africa, Kenya is the leading exporter of avocados. It accounts for nearly one-fifth of its total horticultural exports. The country exported  72, 000 tonnes of avocados which are valued at approximately $118 million ( dollars). The smallholder farmer's involvement in Kenya export markets also increased employment opportunities.

According to experts, the avocado farm would produce a Gross Income of $8,000 to $15, 000 dollars per acre, and require five or six acre-feet of water per acre, per year.
Greenhouse and foliage plants can produce $500, 000 ( dollars) per acre and require about half the water avocado farms need.

The avocado market in Nigeria is untapped and far below the growing demand. Nigeria has a huge potential for commercial production of avocados for export and local industries but most production is done at subsistence level by rural dwellers with obsolete inputs.
Avocado is largely grown in the Southern Nigerian states of Abia, Delta, Ebonyi, Ondo, Osun, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Anambra and Oyo.

It can be used in agroforestry, especially in these regions where soil erosion is endemic and has adversely affected agricultural production and soil quality.

If properly managed, avocados industrial potential can contribute to enhancing Nigeria's economic growth by creating jobs for the recently reported 21.7 million unemployed Nigerians, with   Imo state leading the highest, with  48.7 rates. (NBS 2020).

Rural Watch Africa Initiative ( RUWAI), is engaging smallholder farmers in rural communities, facing land degradation, particularly in the Southern states of Nigeria in agroforestry by using indigenous economic trees such as avocados, in order to reduce degradation,  increase soil health and crop production, as well as provide a sustainable income opportunity for rural women.

Through advocacy,  communities engagement and capacity building for the local farmers, as well as access to farm inputs, avocado has the export potential to generate #12billion ( naira) annually for the country. This will immeasurably contribute to Nigeria's NDCs, towards emissions reduction; increased food nutritional intake, enhance rural livelihood support system and strengthening of biodiversity, - another gold in disguise, towards the economic emancipation.



Uche Isieke is rural development advocate whose focus is on building resilience and sustainable livelihood systems for the rural poor and marginalised communities in Nigeria and Africa, at large. He is a young development professional with nearly ten years of practical experience in the nonprofit sector. He has mentored over 50 young Nigerian youths, leading as change agents in their respective local communities.
 Through his initiative, he has reached over 10 communities involving thousands of lives livelihoods for sustainable management of their natural resources, for incomes, poverty reduction, food security, job creation and ecological resilience.
  He is the Executive Director, Rural Watch Africa Initiative( RUWAI), a nonprofit committed to combating poverty, income disparities, food insecurity, gender inequality and climate change impact.

Email: ucheisieke@gmail.com