Rungwe Invests Sh10 Billion in Avocado Storage Infrastructure

Rungwe District to Invest Over Sh10 Billion in Avocado Storage Infrastructure
Saturday, February 22, 2025

The Rungwe District Council in Mbeya Region will allocate over Sh10 billion for the development of modern infrastructure to collect and store avocados, an effort aimed at alleviating the losses farmers currently face due to unstable market prices. The project, which has already begun, is taking place in Nkuga Village, Nkuga Ward, and will include the construction of small factories to add value to the crop.

This initiative has been described as a significant step toward providing a sustainable solution to the challenges faced by farmers, particularly with regards to unpredictable market conditions that have led to considerable losses during each growing season, despite the government's ongoing efforts to support the avocado industry.

Growing Challenges for Farmers Despite Increased Production
Speaking to Mwananchi on Saturday, February 22, 2025, the Chairman of Rungwe District Council, Mpokigwa Mwankuga, noted that this season saw a substantial increase in avocado production, but the primary issue remains securing reliable markets for the produce. “This season, the avocado market has been challenging. While farmers have responded well and produced in large quantities, the market situation remains unstable. The government is working on strategies to make it more profitable, particularly by securing reliable markets both locally and internationally,” he said.

Mwankuga explained that part of the solution to these challenges lies in the construction of new storage infrastructure and the enhancement of the crop’s value through added processing. "The project is in its early stages, and we are grateful to the government for finding alternative methods to add value to the avocado crop, especially with market-friendly storage solutions before the produce enters the market,” he remarked.

This plan, he continued, will allow farmers to sell their avocados at the government-set price, rather than having to accept whatever price is offered by buyers in the field.

Price Fluctuations and Market Instability
Rungwe District Agriculture Officer, Adam Salum, reported that this year’s avocado production dropped from 5.8 million kilos to 4.3 million kilos, marking a decrease in output. Initially, the government had set a price of Sh2,000 per kilo, but due to market difficulties, this was lowered to Sh1,000 per kilo, yet the market remains unsteady.

Salum indicated that the government continues to analyze the reasons behind the instability in the avocado market.

One avocado farmer, Ipyana Mwalukasa, explained that the market situation has been particularly dire this season, forcing farmers to sell their produce for as little as Sh600 to Sh800 per kilo, despite the government’s price guidance. He emphasized that the issue lies not with the government, but with buyers facing transportation bottlenecks in getting the avocados to international markets. “The situation is truly difficult; the market is non-existent, and it affects us all. The government doesn't want to lose revenue, so we ask for alternative solutions to help us avoid these losses, as a large portion of the fruit is rotting in the fields,” he said.

Efforts to Enhance Quality and Value
On May 11, 2024, Enock Nyasebwa, Director of Crops at the Ministry of Agriculture, announced the launch of a program to establish standards for avocado seedlings. The goal of the initiative is to improve the quality and value of the crop, thus boosting its competitiveness in international markets and increasing foreign exchange earnings. Nyasebwa made this statement during a public meeting with Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa in Kiwira Ward, Rungwe District.