Tea production under threat

Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter

Tea production in Honde Valley is under threat as many farmers are switching to highly lucrative banana production. The crop is fetching low prices on the market.  A kilogramme of green tea is selling at US11 cents while others countries are offering between US25 and US 35 cents per kg.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union second vice president, Mr Berean Mukwende, said most farmers in the area were now uprooting the tea trees and establishing banana plantations.

He said there was no competition on the market as there was only one buyer, the Honde Valley Smallholder Development Company which dictated prices.

There are more than 1 250 farmers growing the crop on 750 hectares in Honde valley.