Global avocado consumption has more than doubled over the past decade¹, with the market now valued at over $23 billion and still growing². While African nations such as Kenya and Morocco have built thriving avocado export sectors³, Nigeria holds significant untapped potential.⁴ A new true cost accounting baseline study reveals hidden social and environmental costs embedded in avocado production, and what closing that gap could mean for smallholder farmers. 

The study, conducted by True Price for Grows in Rows (RootNote Initiative) with support from the Netherlands Food Partnership True Pricing Seed Fund, surveyed 150 farmers across three Local Government Areas in Southern Kaduna.  

• 💰The income gap drives the result: most avocado producing households earn well below living income benchmarks, contributing €1.91/kg to a total true price of €3.15/kg.  

• 🌱Environmental costs, at €0.94/kg, are comparatively modest due the rain-fed nature of production, and low use of inputs. 

Findings were validated with farmers directly, and the report closes with a practical roadmap: from orchard training and farmer clustering now, to structured supply networks and regional market integration.