The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) is teaming up with Veg Pro – the largest agricultural company in Kenya, and Exim Bank to surge export of avocados in the next few years.
The most exported avocado species – Hass, which does well in Ghana in terms of growth has been identified by players in order to take enormous opportunities in the export sector.
According to GEPA, Veg Pro is expected to bring their technical expertise to enable the Authority set up pilot farms where there will be constant irrigation, fertilization as well as ensuring good agronomic practices.
The difference between regular avocados and hass avocados is that the former has significantly less fat. Less fat might sound good, but the fats found in Hass avocados are said to be healthy. This is because Avocado oils are considered heart-healthy and good for the skin. Regular avocados have the same kind of fats, but in much lower quantities.
According to Transparency Market Research (TMR) analysts, the global avocado market was valued at US$13.64 billion in 2018 and is forecast to attain an overall value of US$21.56 billion by 2026. The market is projected to grow a healthy Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.9 percent every year during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026.
Speaking with the Goldstreet Business during the 3rd National Export Development Strategy Formulation Workshop in Accra, the Board Chairman of GEPA, Mr. Sandy Osei-Agyeman said the Authority’s past strategy had been to be a promotional entity, but now it is switching to a developmental entity by placing value on products meant for export.
“The deal was to do pilot farms, maybe three or four and once we are able to show the avocado camps, we make it as a place where we can bring other farms to come and learn how to cultivate avocado”, he reiterated.
Background
Avocados are commercially valuable and are cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world. They have a green-skinned, fleshy body that may be pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or spherical.
Commercially, they ripen after harvesting. Avocado trees are partially self-pollinating and are often propagated through grafting to maintain a predictable quality and quantity of the fruit.
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