Fertiliser boosts Tanzania’s avocado output and export volumes
Production rises by 50% as the government scales up support to farmers.
TANZANIA – Tanzania’s avocado industry is seeing strong growth after farmers embraced fertiliser use, with both production and exports recording sharp increases in the past year.
Speaking during the first national meeting for avocado stakeholders in Dodoma, Elizabeth Bolle, acting director of Regulatory Services at the Tanzania Fertiliser Regulatory Authority (TFRA), said improved fertiliser use raised yields from 100 kg per hectare to 150 kg.
“The use of fertiliser by avocado farmers has significantly increased productivity,” Bolle said. “Currently, many avocado farmers use fertilisers, and one of the government’s key strategies is to ensure that this practice continues to increase productivity in the farming sector.”
Exports of avocados also more than doubled, growing from 17,000 tonnes in the 2022/2023 farming season to 36,000 tonnes in the 2023/2024 season.
Government support fuels growth
The rise in avocado production has been closely linked to government-backed efforts aimed at educating farmers and making fertiliser more affordable. TFRA has been encouraging more farmers to enrol in its subsidised fertiliser programme.
In addition, the agency has introduced a digital registration system to ensure farmers can access fertilisers based on their individual needs. Bolle said this new approach would help TFRA serve farmers more efficiently by identifying where they are located and bringing services closer to them.
She added that TFRA plans to collaborate with local fertiliser manufacturers to support research focused on avocado farming. The goal is to develop fertilisers specifically suited for the crop.
“There are efforts to work with manufacturers to support fertiliser research that helps farmers produce more,” Bolle explained.
According to data shared at the meeting, use of subsidised fertiliser rose sharply—from 363,569 tonnes in the previous farming season to 840,714 tonnes in 2023/2024.
Expanding the avocado sector
TFRA’s central zone manager, Allan Mariki, urged farmers to sign up for the subsidised fertiliser programme to cut down on production costs.
“One of the major tasks we are undertaking at TFRA is ensuring that farmers register in the system to access subsidised fertilisers, which significantly reduces production costs,” Mariki said. He noted that ongoing training efforts were helping farmers understand how proper fertiliser use improves yield.
Looking ahead, the government plans to keep strengthening the avocado sector. Steps include expanding farming areas from 27,747 hectares to 46,002 hectares by 2026/2027, and investing in better seedlings.
Efforts are also underway to set up cold storage facilities in key areas such as Kilimanjaro, Iringa, and Dar es Salaam. These will help reduce post-harvest losses and improve quality through proper cleaning and packaging.
New guidelines are also being developed to help farmers improve irrigation, pest control, and harvesting. At the same time, Tanzania is working on trade agreements to reduce dependence on a few export markets and create more opportunities for farmers.
With these steps in place, Tanzania is steadily building its position as a reliable avocado supplier in global markets.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
