India's avocado production rising from 15 tonnes as imports reach 15,000 tonnes yearly
Avocado prices in India doubled after celebrity endorsement. Domestic output is growing while supply remains far below import levels.
India is currently importing approximately 15,000 tonnes of avocados every year. This volume highlights a significant gap between domestic availability and global demand. In contrast, production at Cottanad Plantations in Kerala reached between 10 and 15 tonnes last year. The company plans to increase yields to 40 or 50 tonnes within the next three years. Prices jumped to double their original level after Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty promoted avocado skincare. Before this period, avocados were discarded as waste. Cottanad growers learned specific agricultural techniques from South Africa to combat disease and improved root vulnerability. The industry is now shifting focus from using avocado trees merely for shade in coffee plantations to cultivating them as the primary crop.
