India
Archived — This article has been archived. The information may be outdated.
India imports 15,000 tonnes of avocados a year
BBC News··4 Sept
India imports around 15,000 tonnes of avocados every year while domestic output is far lower, says industry promoter Manilal Palliyath. Cottanad Plantations in Wayanad has avocado on 40 acres and harvested 10 to 15 tonnes last year. Nursery founder Harshit Godha says he has supplied around 18,000 avocado plants to farmers across India over five years.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Restaurants still lean on imports when Indian supply and ripening quality vary by season.
- Wayanad growers such as Cottanad are expanding acreage after demand rose from about 2011.
- Farmers shifting from coffee and pepper are being pitched avocado as a diversification crop.
What's Happening
- Sunil Bopaiah of Cottanad said avocados were first planted as shade trees for coffee.
- He linked a demand jump to Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty mentioning avocado for skincare around 2011.
- Godha's Indo-Israel Avocado Nursery in Bhopal supplies Hass and Pinkerton saplings.
Why Local Supply Trails Demand
- Palliyath put annual imports near 15,000 tonnes against much smaller domestic production.
- Cottanad reported last year's harvest at 10 to 15 tonnes from 40 acres.
- Godha said Israel grows avocados on about 13,000 hectares with advanced orchard methods.
all-news
