GoKawiilIndia's avocado market grows from niche crop to farmer diversification bet
Once dismissed as inedible 'dog fruit' left for dogs to scavenge, avocados in India began gaining popularity after actress Shilpa Shetty publicised using them for skincare around 2011, sparking demand and rising prices. Plantations like Cottanad in Kerala's Wayanad region, which initially grew avocado trees only for shade, have since expanded cultivation to 40 acres, with output expected to grow fourfold within a few years.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
India currently imports far more avocados than it produces domestically, creating a clear opening for local farmers to fill the supply gap as global demand for the fruit grows. With traditional crops like coffee and pepper increasingly hurt by climate change, avocado cultivation offers a promising diversification path, though farmers are still learning specialized techniques from countries like South Africa to manage the crop's disease-prone roots.
- India imports around 15,000 tonnes of avocados annually while producing only 8,000-9,000 tonnes domestically.
- A celebrity endorsement in 2011 helped shift public perception and triggered rising avocado prices in India.
- Climate stress on traditional crops like coffee and pepper is pushing farmers toward avocado as an alternative.
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Published there as: “From 'dog fruit' to darling: India's avocado boom”
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