Avocado News from Rwanda

From Orchard to Prosperity: The Avocado Boom Revolutionizing Rwanda’s Agriculture

Farmer’s Journal: January 16, 2024 Original article by Emmanuel Ntirenganya

Unleashing the Green Gold Rush

Avocados, once relegated to subsistence farming, have now emerged as Rwanda’s green gold. The demand for these creamy fruits on the international market far surpasses the available supply, reaching a staggering 30 to 40 percent deficit, according to Robert Rukundo, Managing Director of Almond Green Farm and Chairperson of Horticulture Exporters Association of Rwanda (HEAR).

“This is a major crop, which has registered higher growth in terms of performance, meaning that it is a moneymaking commodity. It is a tree you can plant and does not demand much care, but it gives you yield every season,” explains Rukundo, underlining the extraordinary financial potential of avocado farming.

Export-Grade Excellence: The Hass and Fuerte Connection

Not all avocado varieties cultivated in Rwanda meet export standards. According to NAEB, the Hass and Fuerte varieties stand out as the most popular choices for export. This strategic selection ensures that Rwanda’s avocados not only meet international quality requirements but also command competitive prices in global markets.

Global Avocado Outlook: A Fruitful Future

The global demand for avocados is on an upward trajectory, driven by health-conscious consumers seeking the fruit’s nutritional benefits. The International Trade Centre (ITC) estimates that global avocado imports were worth $7.1 billion in 2019. The United States and the European Union are expected to remain the main importers, with an estimated 40 percent and 31 percent of global imports, respectively, by 2030.

As Rwanda’s avocado industry continues to flourish, the journey from a simple crop to a cash cow signifies not just economic prosperity but also a sustainable future for generations to come. The avocado boom is a beacon of Rwanda’s agricultural success, proving that sometimes, the simplest crops can yield the most profitable results.

Rwandan fruit exports surge on back of growing avocado sales

By Maura Maxwell17 January 2025

Weekly shipments of avocado have grown from 2-3 tonnes in 2021 to 15-20 tonnes in 2023/24

Strong international demand for avocados helped lift the value of Rwandan fruit exports by 61 per cent in 2023/24.Figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources – reported in The New Times – shows that the country exported US$30.6mn of fruit, up from US$19mn in the previous year. Export volume grew 58 per cent to 34,700 tonnes. Key markets include the DR Congo, UAE and Vietnam.

Sada Gakuru, Managing Director of Kigali-based exporter S&I Fresh Ltd, said avocado exports had risen from 2-3 tonnes per week in 2021 to 15-20 tonnes in 2023/24, thanks to strong international demand.

As well as avocados, Rwanda exports macadamia nuts, passion fruit and strawberries, along with a variety of processed products such as juices.

Jean Bosco Mulindi, director of the Emerging Commodities Division at the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), said the government has implemented a range of policies to help farmers expand their production area and open new export markets.

The government’s commitment to developing Rwanda’s export business includes providing support to farmers to modernise agricultural practices, create large-scale farms, and improve post-harvest handling and transportation facilities.

Horticultural Export Association of Rwanda (HEAR)

Ikonyk Hills Avocado Farm is a member of HEAR - Horticulture Exporters Association of Rwanda. HEAR was initiated in 2015 by 13 members and now consists of over 40 active members drawn from fruit, vegetable, and flower exporters to promote the interests of Rwandan Horticultural Exporters