Apple shortage looms

Liberty Dube
APPLE production in Nyanga has significantly declined owing to a plethora of problems, chief among them poor orchard maintenance and lack of operational capital. The orchards are understood to be old and the financial bottlenecks inhibiting farmers to plant new orchards has occasioned an influx of imports from South Africa. This scenario has left farmers in Nyanga in a quandary, rendering most of them out of business due to lack of support.

Although apple farming in the mountainous area had transformed several households as well as alleviating challenges like unemployment, starvation and idleness on many youths in the district, the development has of late contributed to high unemployment of farm workers.

The three large-scale producers of apples in Nyanga are Claremont, Nyanga Downs and Nyamagaya.

Claremont is concentrating on 90 hectares, Nyanga Downs 48 and Nyamagaya 28ha.

Other deciduous fruits being cultivated in the area are nactrines, peaches, apricots and plums.

The Nyanga Deciduous Fruit Growers’ Association chairman, Mr Edward Buwu, recently told The Manica Post that production of apples will hit a new low this season.

In 2014 the trio harvested 5 100 tonnes, which was at par with the previous year’s harvest. In 2012 the trio harvested 5 300 tonnes and 5 100 tonnes in 2013.

In 2010 the three mega producers harvested a combined 6 000 tonnes while in 2011 they realised 5 600 tonnes.

“We are expecting a harvest of about 5 000 tonnes this year. The output reduction is a result of a combination of factors and challenges such as poor maintenance of the orchards which are more that 50 years old. We are subsequently in a process of uprooting and replanting and this has caused a significant reduction of output. There will, however, be an increase in a few years to come as new trees start to bear. The increase will carry on to the next eight years,” Mr Buwu said.

The oldest existing orchards were planted in the period spanning 1966 to 1969 and though these plants were still producing, their old age no longer makes commercial productivity economically viable.

Mr Buwu said efforts were underway to adopt improved orchard management techniques meant to optimise yields on the existing plantations.

“We will have a bumper harvest in a few years to come to help alleviate the scourge of imported apples coming into the country from neighbouring countries such as South Africa, which has affected us a lot. We, however, applaud government’s efforts to minimise the quantity of apples coming into Zimbabwe,” he added.

The need to take out existing orchards, Mr Buwu said, was necessitated by factors such as the current age of existing orchards, the need to plant newer rootstock with better adaptable characteristics and the need to plant varieties that are currently demanded by the market.

The apple farming activities contribute meaningfully to employment, with the Nyanga sector accounting for an average of 225 workers per annum.

Claremont currently employs about 400 workers, Nyamagaya 300 and Nyanga Downs employs the least at 130.

“There has been a slowdown in expansion of orchards, and we urgently need something like $25 000 to plant a new orchard. Long-term financing like eight-year loan facilities is paramount to farming endeavours,” said Mr Buwu.
Apple farming, despite the highs and lows, has become a “life changer” and is currently employing over 1 200 individuals and supporting about 8 000 households and has the potential to employ over 2 000 individuals by 2020 if these and other concerns are addressed.

Nyanga is blessed with optimum rainfall, and favourable chilling units which contribute to good yields.

In Zimbabwe, commercial production of deciduous fruits is confined to the Eastern Highlands at altitudes above 1 400 metres to 1 950m above sea level.

The district is capable of producing between 5 200 metric tonnes and 6 000 of apples each year.