India's Avocado Boom Turns 'Dog Fruit' Into Profitable Crop

India's avocado market has expanded from almost nothing 15 years ago to a fast-growing business, with growers, nurseries and restaurants all trying to meet rising demand, according to BBC. Cottanad Plantations in Kerala has planted avocado trees on 40 acres and harvested 10 to 15 tonnes last year, with plans to lift output to 40 to 50 tonnes in three or four years. Industry promoter Manilal Palliyath said India imports around 15,000 tonnes of avocados a year while domestic production is only about 8,000 to 9,000 tonnes. Entrepreneurs are also importing know-how and planting material. Harshit Godha, founder of Indo-Israel Avocado Nursery in Bhopal, said he has supplied about 18,000 avocado plants to farmers across India in the past five years, mainly Hass and Pinkerton varieties. Researchers at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research in Bengaluru have also released two local varieties, while farmers such as Shiju Sebastian are expanding plantings as they look for assured markets.