• The two farmers who are currently exporting the fruit cannot satisfy the entire European market.
• The quantities that may be required are huge.
• There is need to have some form of coordination for every grower to benefit.

Avocado Growers Association of Zambia says it is engaging Ministry of Agriculture on the need to coordinate avocado exports to Europe.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Association Secretary Special Lungu said having coordinated exports will benefit all avocado growers in Zambia and not individuals only.
Mr. Lungu noted that that the two farmers who are currently exporting the fruit cannot satisfy the entire European market, because the quantities that may be required are huge, hence the need to have some form of coordination.
He said the Association does not want avocado growers to have a different market because the market has already been found, therefore they should utilize it.
“I am excited that we have started exporting avocados. We are already talking with Ministry of Agriculture to coordinate the exports so that it’s not only individuals that are selling but all the avocado growers in Zambia, because only two farmers cannot satisfy the market. So we need to have some coordination, we were talking to Ministry of Agriculture over this. The quantities that may be required in Europe are huge so two farmers can’t satisfy that market,” Mr. Lungu said.
Mr. Lungu however noted that before the two farmers came on board, the quantities were not enough to export but now, the country should be able to meet the required quantities.
“We have farmers who are growing avocados in large quantities but before these ones came on board, the quantities were not enough to export but now that these farmers have started penetrating the market, we should be able to meet the quantities that are needed,” he stated.
Zambia has started the mass export of avocados to Europe with the first consignment of over 37 tons, after the country met the phytosanitary requirements to export the fruit into Europe.
Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Green Mbozi recently said the move marks the start of huge market opportunities for Zambia’s avocado growers.