LUSAKA ZAMBIA-18th August 2023- According to the press statement issued by the Directorate of Communication for Lusaka Avocado Multipurpose Cooperative in Lusaka, the key outcomes discussed in the meetings are the critical areas in promoting commercial cultivation of Avocados in Zambia. The new dawn administration has priotized tree crop production and irrigation de3velopment in the eight national development plans covering the period from 2022 to 2026.
In order to support the increase in production of agricultural sector, the government plans in promoting research and development particularly in the development of improved varieties and breeds of crops including tree crops.
Speaking during this meeting, LAMCS was briefed about the fruit crop-technical working group which the ministry of Agriculture has set up to promote the growing of tree crops in Zambia. The fruit tree crop-technical group is also expected to provide guidelines to tree crop farmers on the preparatory work needed to be undertaken, in order to make them ready and access the international markets.
Following the same meeting, Hon. Minister of Agriculture-Mr. Mtolo, introduced DR K.K Msiska, who is the director of plant quarantine and phytosanitary service in the ministry of agriculture to LAMCS as the focal person of the fruit tree crop-technical working group on tree crop cultivation.
Thereafter, LAMICS submitted the following key focus areas that are critical in the promotion of commercial cultivation of Avocados in Zambia:
- Avocado nursery management and certification
- Soil analysis and land preparation
- Avocado roots stock selection and propagation
- Ecological requirement for Avocado cultivation
- Disease and pest management in avocado orchard
- Plant nutrition and fruiting
- Financing avocado cultivation
- Steps towards achieving the global-good agriculture practices
- Market access
- Establishment of avocado packing and aggregation centers
- Avocado value addition
- Framework for regulating the avocado sector.
In addition, it was stated that, the above areas would provide basic for further engagement between the fruit tree crop-technical working group on the tree crops and LAMICS. LAMICS pledged to support the government’s initiative of promoting tree crop cultivation in Zambia.
In summing up, LAMICS invites famers interested in Avocado cultivation to join the Lusaka Avocado multipurpose cooperative and be part of the green gold revolution and those famers located outside Lusaka, advised to join their respective provincial or district Avocado cooperatives.
