Avocados may not be a common item in the diet of the average Indian, but with a population that is on track to being the world's largest after 2022 there is a bright future for the crop in the South Asian nation. 

It's an export opportunity that the New Zealand avocado industry is already capitalizing on, and very soon there will be a new Southern Hemisphere source in its ranks in the form of Peru.

Yesterday, the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MINAGRI) announced India had opened the market to Peruvian Hass avocados after protocol negotiations were successfully completed.

"We are paying attention to agri-exports through SENASA (National Agricultural Health Service) with the aim of doubling values obtained in recent years by 2021," said Minister José Manuel Hernández Calderón.

"Today we can announce access for Peruvian Hass avocados in the Indian market, and with that we expect to close 2016 with an increase in exports of this product."

MINAGRI is also working on market openings for Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, the Philippines, Honduras, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Australia and New Zealand.

The ministry has previously concluded negotiations successfully for avocado access in China and Japan.

"We have the ambition to be the top exporters in avocados, just like in asparagus. We are already the fifth-largest provider of grapes in global trade."

MINAGRI said SENASA's technical negotiations with India for Hass avocado access have taken five years, with a key focus on mitigating the risk of sunblotch.

Additionally, a study was undertaken to show Hass avocados were not a fruit fly host, with request for changes in regulations for the avocado moth Stenoma catenifer.

Peru is also working with Indian authorities to open up access for citrus, asparagus and blueberries.

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