Avocado Boom Powers Zimbabwe’s $2bn Horticulture Ambition

Zimbabwe is ramping up efforts to grow its horticulture sector into a US$2bn industry by 2030 driven by rising avocado production and expanding access to international markets including China. According to updates shared under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the country is undergoing a shift from subsistence farming to commercial horticulture with avocados emerging as a leading export crop. Exports are expected to exceed 6 000 tonnes in 2026 roughly double the previous year’s output as producers scale up to meet increasing global demand.

A key milestone for the sector has been the signing of a phytosanitary agreement with China opening a lucrative market for Zimbabwean avocado varieties such as Hass, Pinkerton and Fuerte. The deal introduces strict quality standards including specific stem length requirements and tighter pest control measures aimed at boosting competitiveness on the global market. The programme provides certified planting materials and technical support to help small-scale farmers transition into commercial production linked to export value chains.

In the Eastern Highlands, growers are diversifying beyond the dominant Hass variety introducing premium cultivars like Esther, Fortuna and Gwen to extend harvesting periods and ensure consistent supply. Manicaland has become the centre of this transformation with outgrower schemes integrating smallholder farmers into formal markets.