Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
FARMERS into chilli and paprika production have expressed optimism ahead of the scheduled visit by a delegation of Chinese buyers expected to assess production capacity and explore export opportunities to the Asian market.
The visit, which is being coordinated by the national export promotion agency, ZimTrade, is seen as a potential breakthrough for small- and medium-scale producers who have long struggled to secure stable international markets for their crops.
ZimTrade will host the Zimbabwe-China Horticulture Buyers’ Engagement, a three-day inward buyers’ mission in Mutare from April 8 to 10. The engagement will promote horticultural trade between Zimbabwe and China by linking local exporters with Chinese buyers and investors.
Currently their produce is being exported via middlemen which make them lose their potential earnings.
Producers said the prospect of exporting to China could significantly improve incomes and expand production.
Chilli and paprika are high-value crops with growing demand in global markets, particularly in Asia, where they are widely used in food processing and culinary industries.
However, farmers in the region have faced challenges including limited access to export channels, stringent quality requirements, and fluctuating prices.
Mr Weston Muchedzi, the chairperson of farmers under Humwepo Together Enterprise, a group drawn from Makoni, Nyanga, Mutasa and Chimanimani districts, said they were handed a golden opportunity to directly engage with the buyers and to increase production as there is high demand of paprika and chillis in China.
“This is a major opportunity for us. Our produce is of high quality, and we are sure the discussions will be successful, and we will be able to scale-up production and invest more in quality and quantity as per buyers’ choice. Currently, we grow the crops under contract, and the company exports to other countries. It is most desirable to directly deal with the final buyers from China as this means we will get all the money from our product.
“Currently, there are 50 active farmers in our group, and with the opening of international markets, we believe more farmers will embrace chillis and paprika. We highly anticipate the visit of the Chinese buyers since we need guaranteed markets and contracts which gives us better return on investment. It is our desire that we export processed products to China.
“We require capacity building of most farmers in terms of value addition machinery and trainings of new farmers on good agricultural practices and marketing. Farmers also require solar powered boreholes and poly pipes for irrigation. Drip technology is the most ideal for the two crops,” said Mr Muchedzi.
ZimTrade indicated that the visiting delegation will tour farms, processing facilities, and storage sites for other produce macadamia nuts, avocados and blue berries to evaluate whether local produce meets international phytosanitary and quality standards.
Discussions are also expected to focus on volumes, pricing, and logistics. The potential deal comes at a time when the government is encouraging diversification into export-oriented crops to boost foreign currency earnings and strengthen rural livelihoods.
