Online Reporter
Word From The Market
Blessing Mabamu
THE global market for dried fruits and vegetables is experiencing robust growth, driven by rising consumer demand for healthy and convenient food options.
In January 2023, the Government launched a bold agenda aimed at generating US$2 billion in horticultural export revenue by 2030.
In pursuit of this target, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development introduced a strategic plan prioritising value addition and exports.
At present, Zimbabwe’s fruit sector generates approximately US$120 million annually.
However, the country’s agriculture sector, particularly the dried fruit sub-sector, holds considerable potential for exponential growth.
Demand for Zimbabwean fruits is steadily rising in international markets, especially within the European Union and Asia. Consumers are drawn to the rich natural sweetness and flavour of locally grown produce. To seize this opportunity, farmers must guarantee a consistent supply, particularly for seasonal fruits such as mangoes.
International buyers are actively sourcing dried mangoes, pineapples, pawpaws and peaches. Zimbabwe’s favourable climate, characterised by abundant sunshine and good rainfall, supports the large-scale cultivation of these fruits.
Mangoes are widely grown across the country, with Gokwe emerging as a key production area, while pawpaws and pineapples are predominantly cultivated in the Eastern Highlands.
Mangoes are typically in season from October to March, peaking between December and February.
Pawpaws are available year-round, with optimal harvests between September and May.
Export markets generally require supply agreements that ensure consistency for the duration of contracts.
This poses a significant challenge for rural smallholder farmers who wish to scale up production, particularly off-season.
To address this, research should be undertaken on how greenhouse systems, integrated with advanced artificial intelligence technologies, could facilitate year-round large-scale commercial cultivation. Alternatively, smallholder farmers can form cooperatives to collectively meet export order volumes. Such collaboration requires strong coordination and effective management.
The Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Zimbabwe has successfully organised similar group farming initiatives in the past.
The path to export success entails organising rural farmers, training them to establish and manage fruit estates and equipping them with key resources such as irrigation systems to maintain production during the dry season.
It is important to note that an emerging industry of this nature cannot rely on short-term high-interest microfinance loans.
Instead, institutions such as the National Venture Capital Company of Zimbabwe should provide “patient capital” to catalyse sustainable growth.
The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) can also play a crucial role by facilitating market access and technical support.
Post-harvest, large-scale agro-processors such as CaraFoods are essential for value addition. While traditional sun or solar drying methods are common, more advanced techniques such as air drying, freeze drying and microwave drying have sustained large fruit value chains in developed economies.
CaraFoods is a food processing enterprise specialising in air dehydration technology to dry fruits and vegetables. The company aims to minimise post-harvest losses while transforming fresh produce into nutritious innovative snacks.
While Zimbabwean consumers typically prefer fresh fruits, dried ones are highly popular in markets such as the European Union, Asia and the Americas. CaraFoods intends to collaborate with a range of stakeholders, particularly rural smallholder farmers, to support its export growth strategy. It wants to do so with the help of AMA.
Large-scale investment into mango, pawpaw and peach plantations, akin to the scale of Matanuska’s banana estates, could greatly benefit rural communities. By producing fruits commercially, rural incomes can rise substantially, with processors like CaraFoods offering fair and consistent pricing.
Diversifying into a range of fruit crops will also help reduce reliance on traditional staples like maize, thereby increasing resilience to market shocks.
Health-conscious global trends are driving demand for dried fruits, which are rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals.
For example, peaches possess alkaline properties that help neutralise stomach acids while the fibre in dried fruits aids digestion.
The fruit, therefore, becomes an important poverty relief product that non-governmental organisations could consider in their dietary plan and food aid programmes.
Moreover, dried fruits can be milled into powder, opening new value chain opportunities in the beverage, confectionery and pharmaceutical sectors.
Powders of dried fruits, such as those of pawpaws, are widely used for medicinal purposes. They have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, among others.
No wonder they are a crucial ingredient to pharmaceutical manufacturers like Varichem.
Juice manufacturers such as Delta, including Schweppes, frequently utilise these powders in product development.
Dried fruits also serve as natural sweeteners, offering a healthier alternative to refined sugars.
CaraFoods is preparing to roll out its range of dried fruit snacks in major supermarkets and hotels.
Beyond local retail, dried fruits are used as key ingredients in baked products, cereals, yoghurt, ice cream and confectionery, adding both flavour and texture.
Exporting dried fruits and powders is ultimately more profitable than shipping fresh produce.
Dried products attract premium prices due to their longer shelf life and ease of transport.
Crucially, the drying process preserves nutritional content; the process simply removes moisture from the fruit.
The prevailing sentiment in the market is clear: the US$2 billion horticulture target is achievable.
Stakeholders are strongly encouraged to support collaborative initiatives led by smallholder farmers that prioritise the processing and export of dried local fruits.
As Zimbabwe progresses with the implementation of the Horticulture Growth and Recovery Plan, and the National Agriculture Policy Framework, it is imperative to invest in promising sectors like dried fruit, which offer both economic and social returns.
Blessing Mabamu is the chief executive officer of CaraFoods. Contact details: [email protected]
