Tanzania's avocado industry has experienced remarkable growth, with export earnings more than doubling in five years. The country's avocado export earnings rose from $44.2 million in 2020/21 to $97.2 million in 2025/26, representing a 120.4 percent increase. This growth is attributed to government measures to improve the investment environment and increased private-sector participation in production, purchasing, processing, cold-chain logistics, and international trade.
National avocado production has also increased, rising 36.2 percent from 149,340 tonnes to 203,473 tonnes during the same period. Avocado exports have reached 52,000 tonnes in 2025/26, surpassing the national target of 40,000 tonnes set for 2030. Exports increased from 15,433 tonnes in 2020/21, representing a 237 percent rise over the five-year period. The government has registered 87,081 avocado growers, established 169 agricultural groups, and deployed 50 specialised extension officers under the Building Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiative.
The Ministry of Agriculture plans to train 9,500 farmers and 500 extension officers in specialised agronomic practices during the 2026/27 season. The government also subsidised 129,986 clean planting materials in 2025/26 and plans to distribute 500,000 seedlings under the One Billion Seedling Programme. Infrastructure investments include 39 irrigation wells in Njombe, Mufindi, and Iringa, Sh3 billion for 20 regional collection centres, and Sh2 billion for standardised roadside collection hubs.
Markets for Tanzanian avocados have expanded, with bilateral negotiations opening opportunities in China, South Africa, India, France, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. However, Minister for Agriculture Daniel Chongolo urged investors to increase domestic processing of avocados into products such as oil, cosmetics, and animal feed to retain more value in the country. Greater value addition would help create jobs, reduce post-harvest losses, and retain a larger share of export earnings in Tanzania.
The Cereal and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (Copra) director general Irene Madeje Mlola said horticulture supported more than 6.5 million Tanzanians, with women and youth accounting for 65 to 70 percent of the workforce. Copra has introduced licensing requirements for commercial buyers, transporters, and agents and registered 8,781 avocado farms using digital mapping systems to improve traceability.
Copra is also finalising 20 regional collection centres in Rungwe, Iringa, Njombe, Ruvuma, and Mbeya and supporting a public-private partnership packhouse equipped with cold-chain facilities. Priorities for 2026/27 include strengthening collection and storage infrastructure, formal trade monitoring, and distributing up to one million seedlings through youth groups. Copra will also publish monthly price benchmarks to improve market transparency.
Tanga Regional Commissioner Dr Batilda Buriani said Tanzania's harvesting season, which runs from September to February, gives local producers an opportunity to target international markets when some regional competitors are in their off-peak periods. The Tanzania Horticultural Association, Copra, and the Ministry of Agriculture will host the HortiLogistics Africa Exhibition in Arusha in November, bringing together 64 international buyers.
Key points
- Avocado export earnings in Tanzania have increased by 120.4 percent over the past five years.
- National avocado production has risen 36.2 percent from 149,340 tonnes to 203,473 tonnes.
- Tanzania's avocado exports have reached 52,000 tonnes in 2025/26, surpassing the national target of 40,000 tonnes set for 2030.
