The Avocado Growers Association is optimistic that a Swedish Avocado Company will this year set up a plant in Zambia that will boost avocado farming in the country.

Association Secretary Fesho Lungu says the US$750, 000 investment project, will also see the promotion of avocado farming as farmers will see the full potential of this untapped farming sector.

Mr. Lungu tells Money FM News via telephone that the Swedish company had earlier indicated that it will start the construction of the plant in October, 2018 but that they are yet to come back.

“They informed us that they will be coming in October this year, they also informed the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA). And so, we are eager to receive them,” he said.

Mr. Lungu states that when this plant is established, it will help the country in producing oil and creams which the country can even export to the available market.

He also laments that local avocado is just going to waste because it is just sold on the streets.
“We don’t have a market for fresh avocado apart from the streets and as you may be aware, this fruit has a short shelf life of about three days,” he said.