The Lusaka Avocado Multipurpose Cooperative Society (LAMCS) has met with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to expand the commercial cultivation of Avocados in Zambia targeting export markets.
LAMCS was represented by Board Chairperson Engineer Bernard Chiwala, Vice Board chairperson Engineer Patrick Mutimushi and Board Secretary Mr John Chowa, who met with IDC CEO Mr Cornwell Muleya and his team from the Investments Division.
The Cooperative briefed IDC on the initiative it has commenced to have local Avocado farmers certified under the GLOBALG.A.P. framework to penetrate global markets.
The GLOBALG.A.P. framework represents a portfolio of standards for safe and responsible production processes in agriculture, aquaculture and floriculture.
Under the auspices of the Avocado Cooperative Union of Zambia (ACUZ) and LAMCS, several avocado farmers have obtained GLOBALG.A.P. certification and are currently exporting around 318 metric tonnes of Avocados to Italy per month, against the demand of 960 metric tonnes, which gives the farmers scope to increase the export volumes. IDC, on its part, plans to embark on large-scale Avocado farming in the mega farms it is developing.
The meeting agreed to pursue the establishment of an Avocado Packhouse and Avocado Oil Processing facility. Additionally, they decided to formalize a partnership aimed at advancing commercial Avocado cultivation for export purposes, with a focus on job creation and the promotion of agricultural diversification into tree crop farming. Further, the meeting resolved to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture to assist avocado farmers in meeting the market access requirements stipulated by importing countries.
The Cooperative also called on farmers interested in Avocado cultivation to join Cooperatives in their vicinities to be part of the “green gold” revolution.