India imports 15,000 tonnes of avocados annually despite domestic shortages
Agricultural workers in Kerala report that avocado prices doubled after celebrity endorsement and the market currently suffers from severe supply gaps.
Fifteen years ago, avocados had no market in India. Ripe fruit fell to the ground and was eaten by dogs, earning them the nickname dog fruit. This perception changed around 2011 when Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty mentioned using avocado for skincare. Over that period, prices doubled and have continued rising. Workers at Cottanad Plantations in Kerala state they previously grew avocados only as a shade tree for coffee. Since realizing the crop could become profitable, they planted trees on 40 acres there. Last year's harvest totaled between 10 and 15 tonnes of fruit. The group manager hopes to raise production to 40 to 50 tonnes over the next three years by adopting methods learned from South African experts. These new techniques include raised beds and wider spacing because avocado roots are vulnerable to disease. Market studies revealed a huge gap between supply and demand. India imports around 15,000 tonnes of avocados every year while domestic output remains insufficient to meet needs. The industry is now scaling up production to address this shortfall.
