Avocado (Persea americana), a member of the Lauraceae family, is native to Central America. It thrives in tropical and subtropical climates and prefers well-drained soils rich in moderate organic content. In India, states such as Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and parts of the North-Eastern region offer suitable agro-climatic conditions for its cultivation.
While avocado was once a niche fruit limited to specific markets, the increasing demand for healthy and organic food has fueled its acceptance across various regions. It is consumed raw in salads, sandwiches, smoothies, or used in the preparation of guacamole, a popular Mexican dip. What sets avocado apart is its high monounsaturated fat content—particularly oleic acid—which supports heart health and aids in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Nutritional Profile of Avocado
Avocados are considered nutrient-dense and energy-rich. A typical 100-gram serving of avocado contains abundant calories, sufficient amounts of fats and fibers, also enriched with Vitamins like Vitamin K and C and minerals like Potassium. With such a profile, avocados are beneficial for heart health, skin nourishment, eye health, and weight management. Furthermore, their low sugar content and high fiber make them suitable for diabetic diets.
Importance of High Yielding varieties of Avocado in Indian Agricultural Scenario
With the rising demand for avocados in India, the development of indigenous high-yielding varieties is crucial to narrowing the gap between domestic demand and supply. These locally developed cultivars not only ensure promising yields but also reduce the reliance on expensive imports, thereby enhancing farmer profitability. In a significant step forward, ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, has introduced two such high-performing avocado varieties—Arka Supreme and Arka Coorg Ravi.
Acting on the recommendation of Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has been instrumental in promoting high-value horticultural crops across the country, IIHR has released these varieties for cultivation. Both Arka Supreme and Arka Coorg Ravi show excellent potential to thrive in India’s tropical regions, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen domestic avocado production.
Avocado cv. Arka Supreme
Arka Supreme is a high-yielding, regular-bearing avocado cultivar developed through seedling selection from local collections. This variety exhibits a spreading growth habit, making it well-suited for both small orchards and commercial plantations.
Arka Supreme is recognized as one of the most productive avocado varieties suited to Indian conditions. A fully mature tree yields approximately 175 to 200 kilograms of fruit per plant annually, making it highly favorable for commercial cultivation. The fruits are oblong in shape with an attractive appearance and firm texture, which enhances their market appeal. Each fruit weighs between 367 to 428 grams, offering consumers a sizable and satisfying option.
In terms of sweetness, the variety registers a Total Soluble Solids (TSS) level of 7.8 °Brix, providing a mild yet pleasant flavor. Notably, Arka Supreme boasts a fat content of 20%, ranking it among the richer avocado varieties—ideal for culinary uses as well as value-added processing. It also exhibits Type “A” flowering behavior, a crucial trait for orchard pollination management, especially when paired with complementary Type “B” varieties to improve fruit set and yield.
Avocado cv. Arka Coorg Ravi
Arka Coorg Ravi is another seedling selection aimed at meeting the growing demand for avocados in India. Developed for its appealing fruit characteristics and high pulp content, this variety has already gained traction among farmers.
Arka Coorg Ravi variety of Avocado is known for its impressive fruit characteristics and high market value. The fruits have a shiny, dark green appearance, giving them a fresh and premium look that appeals to consumers. With a fruit weight ranging from 450 to 600 grams, they are significantly larger than average, making them particularly attractive for retail markets. One of the standout features of this variety is its pulp recovery, which exceeds 80%, making it ideal not only for direct consumption but also for use in food processing industries.
In terms of productivity, a mature tree yields around 150 to 200 kilograms per plant, comparable to Arka Supreme. The fat content ranges between 12–14%, which, while slightly lower than that of Arka Supreme, still qualifies it as a nutritious, healthy-fat-rich fruit. Importantly, Arka Coorg Ravi exhibits Type “B” flowering behavior, making it a valuable companion to Type A varieties like Arka Supreme for effective cross-pollination and improved yield in orchard systems.
The introduction of cultivars like Arka Supreme and Arka Coorg Ravi marks a significant advancement in avocado cultivation in India. With their high yields, market-friendly fruit sizes, and adaptability to Indian agro-climatic conditions, these varieties are empowering farmers to tap into the growing demand for avocados, both domestically and globally.
As awareness around healthy eating and superfoods continues to rise, avocado cultivation is poised to become a profitable and sustainable option for Indian horticulturists. Through scientific breeding, strategic dissemination of grafted plants, and farmer training, India is steadily carving a space for itself in the global avocado map.
