Potentials of Avocado farming as an alternative crop in the Coffee-Banana based farming systems – the case of Kagera Region, Tanzania: Review

Abstract

The agricultural production in Kagera over the last decades has not kept pace with the growth of population in the region. For many centuries, Kagera has primarily depended on coffee and bananas for livelihood and to lesser extent growing of pine trees. Currently, the farmland and the productivity for predominant crops is diminishing due to population pressure, shrinkage of the farm land, the decline in soil fertility and climate change all making unsustainable livelihood thus necessitating serious intervention. Crop diversification therefore can be a great strategy. Avocado is an important alternative crop to farmers as there are high potential and suitability of the agro-ecology coupled with high domestic and export market demand. Besides, avocado can have multiple benefits to the community especially to improve farmers’ income, increase land productivity, sustainability and food security because the crop is high yielding and has lots of essential nutritional benefits. Having ideal growing conditions, and the government promoting avocado farming in recent years, it’s high time that Kagera farmers fully embark in avocado farming for economic growth and food security. Moreover, their ease of maintenance and ability to be inter-cropped with other crops makes the crop an excellent alternative to farmers. In this review article, local, regional and global avocado production trend, importance, potentials and opportunities, some constraints and future direction in relation to Kagera region and Tanzania at large have been discussed.

Keywords: Avocado, Kagera region, Agro-ecology, Tanzania