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Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
ZIMBABWE’S target of exporting 30 000 tonnes of blueberries by 2030, up from this year’s projected 8 000 tonnes has received a boost, as contracting of new farmers to produce a new variety has started.
Local business concern, Kuminda’s chief executive officer, Mr Clarence Mwale said his company recently launched the new blueberry variety in Harare and called on small-scale farmers to register for contracting.
Kuminda is a multi-national company founded in Zimbabwe and jointly owned by Messrs Mwale and Fred Matenga, whose main goal is to empower African farmers by linking them with international markets.
Kuminda has signed an agreement for exclusive rights to Dutch breeder, Fruit Vision’s blueberries, which they will be the first to establish in Zimbabwe.
“We have done trial plants and are now preparing land for 20 hectares under Kuminda with 30 percent of the fruit to be harvested within 12 months.
“We have a contract for 2 000 hectares for Southern Africa region,” Mr Mwale said.
He said they were looking for small-scale farmers with access and ability to finance high value crops. Those under irrigation schemes or cooperatives that can be financed by Government or development partners also qualify.
Kuminda will import the trees from developers of the Fruit Vision varieties, Agriom Bv, who are based in the Netherlands. The varieties are co-owned by the developer and the off taker Onuba Fruit, a Spanish company.
The minimum area for contracting is 2, 5 hectares while an initial investment of between US$100 000 and US$150 000 per hectare is required.
“Prices of this blueberry variety are averaging US$7 per kilogramme against a minimum of US$4. Contracts includes offtake by Onuba Fruit whose distribution network spans across Europe and Asia. Varieties are currently being grown in Huelva in Spain,” he highlighted.
Kuminda holds the master license for Southern Africa and boasts expertise in cold storage, greenhouse structures, soil and substrates, finance and banking as well as small-scale value chain development.
The new blueberry variety has the added advantage of high yields of up to 65 tonnes per hectare up from the current 30 and it can be planted directly in the soil rather than in pots or in a trench filled with a growing medium in high density plantings.
Blueberry is a high capital-intensive crop that requires technology and precision with its production success hinging on partnerships with banks, local and diaspora investors.
Blueberry field under development
The blueberry sector has recorded tremendous growth with export earnings surging from US$1 million in 2018 to US$14 million in 2022 and the introduction of a new variety, which can be harvested twice a year will add impetus to the march towards achieving the 2030 target.
Statistics from Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) show that berries export volumes rose by 221 percent from 1 743 744 kilogrammes in 2020 to 5 605 622 in 2023.
The blueberry marketing season runs between April and October with 60 percent of the product harvested between August and October.
Zimbabwe’s unique selling proposition (USP) in the blueberry industry is its quality, taste and production time. The country’s blueberry fruit reaches the market in winter before its arch-rival Peru floods the market with its product.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter