Avocado Production in Asia and the Pacific - United Nations in ...

9. CONSTRAINTS IN AVOCADO PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT
The major constraints to avocado development are the following:
- Poor marketing, handling, grading and packing
- Low prices
- Poor quality fruit and low yield
- High harvesting losses due to premature harvesting and unsatisfactory harvesting
techniques
- Poor facilities for exporters
- Lack of institutional support for pre-export quarantine
The Horticultural Research and Development Institute of the Department of
Agriculture has developed improved production packages and introduced new technologies
for avocado, but these are seldom adopted by the farmers. However, even with the current
marketing system and poor prices there is a considerable number of growers earning a good
income from home gardens and small avocado orchards. Though new varieties were
released and recommended in 1995, due to lack of a good extension system for fruit crops,
these are still not very popular among growers. Also, there is very little contribution from
the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka in promoting the export of avocado.
The knowledge of the average consumer with regard to the nutritional value of
avocado is still very poor. Until recently, the avocado was consumed with caution as the
level of fat in fruits created some kind of misconception among the people that it was
unhealthy to consume. However, with the propaganda launched by the Horticulture
Research and Development Institute regarding its nutritional value and its ability to control
heart diseases a better awareness was created among people. But it is still a matter of
conjecture whether this nutritional information on the food value of the avocado has played a
role in increasing per capita consumption.
10. GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PLANS FOR RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
To overcome the major constraints and to increase productivity, several steps have
been taken under the new crop productivity programme launched by the Ministry of
Agriculture. Under this programme, it is envisaged to increase the present acreage of 826
hectares to 1,930 by the year 2005. Though the present yields are as low as 14 t/ha, they
could be projected to increase by the application of new production technologies to 18-20
t/ha by the year 2005. Thus, the present annual production of 1,154 tonnes is estimated to
increase around 33,000 tonnes. Since the average consumer is familiar with this exotic fruit,
consumption among the local population is expected to increase in the future.
To achieve this target, the ongoing research programmes on performance of exotic
varieties, development of phenological models for different agro-climatic regions, canopy
management, improved agronomic packages, application of pest and disease control
measures, development of post-harvest technology and new avenues for utilization of the
fruit and its oil for the cosmetic industry, will be intensified.
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