Telangana to take up avocado crop to cash in on rising demand in India

As the demand for the South American tropical fruit avocado rises among health-conscious customers, ambitious farmers are embracing its growing in the state

Often referred to as butter fruit, this fruit is a great source of healthful fats, antioxidants that fight disease and aging, and almost 20 different vitamins and minerals. The fruit has a deep flavor and a creamy consistency. To fulfill the increasing demand, it is now mostly imported, but some ambitious people are attempting to cultivate it locally.

The crop will soon be the subject of research at Telangana State Horticultural University’s Sangareddy campus. For 2024–2025, the horticulture department had set a modest goal of 20 hectares to promote the avocado production.

Enthusiastic farmers took up cultivation of the avocado crop even before the horticulture department started its research. One can grow more avocado trees per acre of land than mangoes and the retail price is between Rs 400 to Rs 500 per kg. Containing a lot of minerals, vitamins and is rich with fats which are good for health. As it does not have sugars, it’s good for diabetics also.

It is stated that the avocado oil, which costs Rs 1,500 per litre, has properties similar to those of olive oil and is beneficial for the skin, heart, and Vitamin E. As a result, it is utilized in cooking and cosmetics. According to data just released by the American Heart Association, eating avocados lowers the risk of having a heart attack by 30 per cent. International demand for the fruit has been strong. For the past six years, we have been providing farmers with training programs. We market the fruit, maintain a nursery, and conduct field tests. Around it, we are creating an ecology. The demand for it is enormous on a global scale. Fruit folate promotes the development of the baby’s brain and spine and facilitates digestion during pregnancy.

As the demand for the South American