Avocados have been cultivated in Tanzania since the 1890s. Global demand for the crop continues to rise, with the industry's value reaching US$16.24 billion in 2024 and projected to expand to US$23 billion by 2029. Tanzania has become Africa's fourth-largest exporter, behind Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco.
In 2013, Tanzania exported 1,393 tons of avocados valued at US$1.9 million. By 2024, exports had increased to 36,520 tons valued at US$79.8 million. Current export destinations include Europe (40%), India (30%), and the Middle East (19%).
Research following avocados from farms to local markets and packhouses shows that food waste remains a central issue. Farmers, associations, and packhouse managers reported that up to 40% of fruit in the domestic sector is lost due to damage and pests. In the export chain, smallholders and some larger farms faced losses of 30–50%, while large commercial farms recorded 10–20%.
Losses are linked to handling practices, including compression of sacks during transport. Hass avocados destined for export are only accepted if intact, clean, uniform, and blemish-free. Domestic varieties often spoil quickly due to a lack of cold storage and transport. Before 2016, rejected export fruit was dumped, though some is now absorbed by oil processors.
Smallholder farmers supplying local markets face additional challenges. Many harvest first and negotiate afterwards, leaving them vulnerable to price reductions or rejection by brokers. Women, who dominate the domestic trade, are more exposed because they have less access to capital and infrastructure than male-owned businesses. Middlemen buying in bulk can set lower prices or impose their own quality standards.
Farmers supplying exporters often rely on credit for inputs that is deducted after harvest. If fruit is rejected, they cannot easily switch to domestic sales because local consumers prefer large, smooth-skinned varieties, unlike smaller Hass avocados. Certificates are required for direct export sales, making market access difficult for smaller growers.
Suggested measures to reduce losses include wider adoption of minimum pricing agreements between local governments and exporters, broader training for cooperatives on harvesting and handling, and improved market data access. Standardisation of quality requirements across exporters was also identified as necessary.
Investment in cold storage, transport infrastructure, and oil processing facilities would allow surplus and rejected fruit to be redirected. Researchers noted that "food waste is not just a symptom of inefficiency; it is a mirror of deeper injustices."
Source: The Conversation