South Africa’s fast-growing avocado industry has a new reason to celebrate. A new agro-processing factory in rural Limpopo is turning local abundance into economic opportunity.
The official launch of Ecovado, an avocado oil production facility in Dovheni village outside Thohoyandou, has marked a milestone for rural industrialisation last week Friday. It will be transforming wasted produce into livelihoods and local pride.
Founded by Hulisani Mudau, an entrepreneur from the area, Ecovado was born from a simple yet powerful observation. Every year, tons of avocados go to waste because there is no infrastructure to process them locally.
“Growing up here, I always saw potential,” Mudau said at the launch.
“We have an abundance of avocados, but no value addition. I wanted to change that to create jobs and income for people in my own community.”
The state-of-the-art facility can process up to 100 tons of avocados a day, producing cold-pressed avocado oil. In its early phase, the factory has already employed 15 local workers, with over 100 jobs expected once operations reach full capacity.
“In terms of how many people we’ve employed so far, we just started this month. So we already have about 15 local people that we’ve given an opportunity to,”he said.
Unlike many large scale agro-processors, the facility is designed for inclusivity. Its supply model prioritises small-scale farmers and household growers, including those who have just a few avocado trees but no access to formal markets.
“We have seen ‘cash-for-scrap’ work in recycling,” Mudau explained.
“So we are introducing a ‘fruit-for-cash’ system. Even if someone has only one or two trees, they can bring their avocados to the factory even by wheelbarrow, by plastic bag and get paid immediately. Everyone can benefit.”
This approach gives local households a reason to plant and harvest more, turning what was once subsistence fruit into a steady source of income.
The factory’s arrival, first of its kind in Vhembe District –has been celebrated by community leaders and farmers who see it as a turning point for rural development. Limpopo, along with Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, is one of South Africa’s top avocado producing regions, yet much of the value addition from oil extraction to packaging happens far from rural communities.
Now, with Ecovado located in Dovheni, the economic value chain stays local. Farmers can sell nearby, jobs are created within the village, and young people can see viable futures in agribusiness.By processing locally, Ecovado helps reduce the high transport costs that often cut into growers’ profits and cause fruit waste during long distance logistics.
Ecovado’s business model aligns with national efforts to boost agro-processing and SMME growth under South Africa’s Rural Industrialisation Strategy. Beyond its immediate economic impact, Mudau hopes the project will inspire similar ventures for other local crops.
The long-term vision extends beyond oil.
Ecovado plans to diversify into cosmetic and wellness products derived from avocado oil, targeting both local and export markets.
“This is only the beginning,” Mudau said.
“We want Ecovado to be a proudly South African brand that shows the world rural innovation can be world-class.
As the factory machines roared to life and the first bottles of avocado oil rolled off the line, villagers cheered. For Dovheni, this was more than an industrial launch, it was the start of a new chapter of hope and jobs .
Azwi@vutivibusiness.co.za
