Ecovado Avocado Oil Factory boosts Limpopo Agriculture

From Orchard to Export: Limpopo’s New Avocado Oil Factory Fuels Local Growth and Global Ambition

The Avocado Grading Shade in Limpopo South Africa

DOVHENI VILLAGE, Limpopo – In the heart of Limpopo's fertile agricultural belt, a new story of green gold is being pressed into existence. The recent launch of the Ecovado avocado oil factory in Dovheni village is more than just a new business opening; it's a powerful model of local value addition, job creation, and sustainable economic empowerment that is already capturing international attention.

The factory, a beacon of hope and innovation, has officially begun operations, transforming locally grown avocados into high-quality, cold-pressed avocado oil. In a significant vote of confidence for South African agro-processing, Ecovado has already secured its first export contract, sending its "proudly South African" product to the discerning markets of Italy.

More Than Just Oil: A Vision Rooted in Community

The driving force behind Ecovado, founder Hulisani Mudau, articulates a mission that goes beyond profit margins. "The goal is simple," Mudau states, "to empower the local economy and make proudly South African products. For too long, we have exported raw materials only to import the finished goods at a higher price. Ecovado is our answer to that. We are keeping the value right here in Dovheni."

This philosophy is at the core of Enviro-Agri News Africa's focus: highlighting initiatives that bridge the gap between primary agriculture and industrial development, ensuring that the wealth generated from the land benefits the communities that nurture it.

The Ripple Effect: Jobs, Skills, and Farmer Support

The establishment of the factory has created a tangible ripple effect across the local economy:

.Direct Employment: The facility has created numerous permanent and seasonal jobs for local residents, from sorting and processing to packaging and logistics.

· Skills Development: Workers are being trained in specialized agro-processing techniques, building a skilled workforce that is crucial for the region's long-term industrial development.

· Stable Market for Farmers: Local avocado farmers now have a reliable, nearby buyer for their produce. This reduces transport costs, minimizes food waste from aesthetically imperfect fruit, and provides a more stable income, encouraging further investment in avocado cultivation.

Why Avocado Oil? Tapping into a Global Health Trend

The choice to focus on avocado oil is a strategic one. Globally, the demand for healthy, versatile, and natural oils is booming. Avocado oil, renowned for its high smoke point and abundance of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, has become a staple in modern kitchens and cosmetic products.

By processing the oil domestically, Ecovado captures a significant portion of the value chain that was previously lost. Instead of shipping raw avocados at a commodity price, they are exporting a premium, shelf-ready product with a much higher margin.

A Green Future for Limpopo and Beyond

The success of Ecovado serves as an inspiring case study for other regions across Africa. It demonstrates the immense potential of:

1. Value Addition: Moving from raw commodity exporter to a producer of finished goods.

2. Sustainable Agribusiness: Creating circular economies where local resources are utilized for local benefit.

3. Global Competitiveness: Meeting international quality standards and securing a place in the lucrative global health food market.

The story of Ecovado is still in its early chapters, but its first export to Italy is a clear signal: Limpopo is not just growing avocados; it is cultivating economic resilience, community pride, and a sustainable model for African agri-business that the world is eager to taste.

Let us know in the comments about other African agro-processing success stories we should feature next on Enviro-Agri News Africa!

The Mangalica Pig: A Unique and Fascinating Breed

The Mangalica Pig: A Unique and Fascinating Breed

If you're familiar with sheep, you might be surprised to know that there's a pig breed that bears a striking resemblance to them. Meet the Mangalica, a Hungarian breed of domestic pig that's famous for its thick, curly, wool-like coat.

A Brief History

The Mangalica pig was developed in the mid-19th century in Hungary, and it's one of the only pig breeds in the world noted for its long, hairy fleece. This unique coat helps the pig stay warm in the winter, and it's a distinguishing feature of the breed.

Physical Characteristics

Mangalica pigs come in a few color varieties, including Blonde, Swallow-bellied (black and blonde), and Red. They are also quite large, with mature pigs weighing between 200-300 kg (440-660 lbs). Some champion pigs have even tipped the scales at over 500 kg (1,100 lbs)!

Culinary Delights

Mangalica pigs are prized by chefs for their exceptionally marbled, flavorful, and high-quality fat. This makes them ideal for producing world-class sausages and salami.

Interesting Facts

- The Mangalica pig's wool-like coat is similar to that of the now-extinct Lincolnshire Curly Coat pig breed from England.

- Mangalica pigs are well-suited to outdoor farming and are often raised in small-scale, sustainable agriculture systems.

- The breed is considered a cultural heritage of Hungary and is protected by law.

Overall, the Mangalica pig is a unique and fascinating breed that's worth learning more about. Whether you're interested in animal husbandry, culinary arts, or simply appreciate unusual animal breeds, the Mangalica pig is definitely worth a closer look.

The Quiet Revolution: How Africa’s Women in Horticulture Are Farming a Future

Look across the vibrant, green fields of a modern horticulture farm in Kenya, the orderly rows of a Rwandan vegetable cooperative, or the innovative greenhouse projects in Nigeria. If you look closely, you will see the architects of a quiet revolution. They are often dressed in practical workwear, their hands marked by the soil, and their eyes fixed on a horizon of possibility. They are the women of Africa, and they are not just tending crops; they are cultivating resilience, wealth, and a new narrative for the continent.

Young African women are thriving in Horticulture regardless of the challenges they face 

For too long, the image of an African farmer has been a static one, often male, and often associated with staple crops. But a powerful shift is underway. In the high-value, fast-turnover world of horticulture—the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs—African women are moving from the background to the forefront, proving they are not merely laborers, but leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

The evidence is blooming across the map.

In Kenya, women like Jane Maigua of Exotic EPZ are redefining export agriculture. Her company grows and ships premium snow peas, baby corn, and passion fruit to Europe’s most discerning supermarkets. But her mission goes deeper. By focusing on ethical sourcing and empowering smallholder farmers, especially women, she demonstrates that high-profit agribusiness and profound social impact can, and must, go hand-in-hand. She isn't just exporting produce; she is exporting a model of inclusive growth.

Travel south to Zambia, and you’ll find the inspiring story of Mizinga Melu. As a top-tier banker, she could have chosen a life far removed from the soil. Instead, she launched Mizinga Farms, a thriving venture producing tomatoes, cabbages, and watermelons. Her story is a powerful rebuttal to the notion that farming is a fallback or a legacy profession. It is a strategic, intellectually demanding, and lucrative career path, attracting the best and brightest minds who see its potential.

In Rwanda, the collective power of women is on full display. Through cooperatives, thousands of women have come together to cultivate Irish potatoes, maize, and vegetables. By pooling their resources, sharing knowledge, and accessing markets as a unified force, they have turned subsistence plots into commercial enterprises. This model has not only lifted families out of poverty but has also rebuilt social fabric, giving women a powerful voice in their communities and the national economy.

And in the challenging, arid landscapes of Somalia, women like Asha Omar are symbols of breathtaking resilience. Leading the Kaabe Women’s Cooperative, she and others grow onions, tomatoes, and sesame, defying both climate and conflict. Their success is a stark reminder that for many women, horticulture isn't about ambition alone; it is an act of survival and a defiant stand for food security and stability for their families and communities.

So, what is the secret to their success? It is a potent blend of innate skill and transformative opportunity.

Women have always been the custodians of seed knowledge and sustainable farming practices. They understand the land intuitively. Now, when this inherent expertise is met with access to three critical resources, the results are transformative:

1. Land and Finance: Secure land tenure and access to credit allow women to invest in their farms with confidence, moving from seasonal planting to long-term business planning.

2. Technology: From drip irrigation that conserves water to mobile platforms that provide real-time market prices, technology is a great equalizer, boosting yields and profitability.

3. Training and Markets: Knowledge in modern farming techniques, coupled with direct links to formal markets, breaks the cycle of subsistence and enables wealth creation.

Despite this progress, significant barriers remain—from cultural norms that limit land ownership to the heavy burden of unpaid care work. The call to action is clear. Governments must prioritize policies that grant women equal land rights. Financial institutions need to design products that meet the needs of women farmers. And the private sector must integrate these women-led enterprises into their value chains.

The narrative is changing. The African woman horticulturist is no longer an anomaly; she is an archetype of a new Africa. She is a businesswoman, a community leader, an environmental steward, and a breadwinner. By investing in her, we are not just supporting individual success stories. We are watering the seeds of a more food-secure, prosperous, and equitable continent. The revolution is quiet, but its harvest will feed nations.

Blueberry Boom in Zimbabwe: Growing, Exporting & Getting Global Attention

Marondera-  Zimbabwe is fast becoming one of Africa’s rising stars when it comes to blueberries. What once was trial farms has grown into a vibrant export sector with strong potential. Here’s a closer look at where blueberries are grown in Zimbabwe, what the market and prices are like, how exports are faring, and how Zimbabwean blueberries are seen in terms of quality.

Blueberries are on demand on the global market and Zimbabwe is tapping into this market.

Where Blueberries are Grown

Blueberries are mainly grown in Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, and Mashonaland Central provinces. 

Farms are often located north of Harare. 

Some farms use open-field planting; others are using pots, substrate, shade nets, and/or drip irrigation and fertigation systems. This helps with climate control, protection, and consistent quality. 

Production, Area, Yield

Around 2023-2024, Zimbabwe had about 600 hectares of blueberries under cultivation. Of that, roughly 450 hectares are in full production; the rest is for breeding or early stage. 

Yields are improving: from ~9 tonnes per hectare in earlier years up to ~12 tonnes per hectare in 2023-24. 

Total output is rising; in 2023-24 season blueberry production increased from ~5,787 tonnes to ~8,000 tonnes. 

Market & Price per kg

Prices per kilogram vary depending on demand, quality grade, export versus local buyer, time of season, etc. One farm in Goromonzi (Mashonaland East) reported prices ranging from US$2.50 to US$6 per kg. 

On average, some reports suggest around US$4.25/kg when costs, yields, and market rates are considered. 

Earlier years saw berry export average prices around US$2.14/kg in 2021 rising to about US$3.01/kg in 2022. 

Exports & Markets

Virtually all blueberries produced in Zimbabwe are for export. There is very little if any domestic market consumption. 

Key export destinations include: The Netherlands, Germany, UK, EU, and markets in the Far East and Middle East. 

A new opportunity has opened with access to China after a phytosanitary protocol agreement. 

Export volumes rose from ~2,500 tonnes in 2020 to over 6,200 tonnes in 2024. 

Export earnings have also increased sharply. From ~US$11 million in 2020 to about US$50 million in 2024 for the berries sector, with blueberries being the major driver. 

Quality of Zimbabwean Blueberries

Zimbabwe has some advantages: early season window. Because the climate allows harvesting earlier than many Northern Hemisphere producers, Zimbabwean blueberries reach international markets “ahead” of competitors like Peru or Eastern Europe. This gives them premium opportunities. 

Growing practices (use of shade nets, fertigation, good substrate etc.) contribute to consistent fruit quality. Farms are increasingly adopting modern methods to meet export standards. 

Zimbabwean blueberries are generally considered high quality in taste, appearance, and freshness, especially for export. Growers and exporters point out that the fruit holds up well in transit when handled properly. 

Challenges & What Needs Doing

Financing: High startup costs (land preparation, infrastructure, irrigation, substrate, cold chain, etc.) make entry difficult without good capital. 

Logistics & Cold Chain: To reach export markets in good condition, efficient cold storage, transport, and packaging are essential. Any delays or breakdowns in the cold chain hurt quality and profits. 

Land tenure & policy: Uncertainty in land rights, variable utility costs, exchange rate fluctuations, and regulatory burdens have been cited as obstacles. 

Outlook & What’s Next

Zimbabwe aims to scale up blueberry production to 30,000 tonnes by 2030 and expand hectares under production to about 1,500 ha (from ~570-600 ha currently) if investment, policy and infrastructure challenges are addressed. 

More markets are opening (as with China), and global demand for blueberries.