admin
Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe has potential to access new international agriculture markets for horticulture produce boosting incomes of the farmers and ensuring that growers can continue to expand production and profits even with a saturated local market.
Export earnings from horticulture will more than double to US$143 million from the US$64 million realised last year after the Government implemented policies that have revived the horticultural space.
Last year, Government launched a US$30 million horticulture export revolving fund to enhance the horticulture sector’s contribution to the growth of the country’s export earnings and economic growth led by more farmers earning more money.
The funding was basically focusing on supporting horticultural farmers and those involved in exports.
The Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment report 2 for the 2022/23 summer season that was released by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development indicates that there is an overall increase in production of horticultural crops for the 2022/2023 season. The total production includes both local and export markets.
Production of blueberries increased significantly by 69 percent from 3 420 tonnes last season to 5 787 tonnes this season.
Irish potatoes increased by 12 percent from 534 543 tonnes to 599 550 tonnes, onions by 32 percent from 220 625 tonnes to 290 628 tonne, leafy vegetables by 35 percent from 194 152 tonnes to 261 960 tonnes, cabbages by 29 percent from 471 555 tonnes to 607 392tonnes and tomatoes by 19 percent from 281 610 tonnes to 336 300 tonnes.
On the other hand, oranges increased by 6 percent from 169 084tonnes to 179 482 tonnes, lemons by 6 percent from 67 640 tonnes to 71 652 tonnes, deciduous fruit by 9 percent from 8 675 tonnes to 9 477 tonnes, apples from 4 708 tonnes to 6076 tonnes, macadamia by 1 percent from 48 600 tonnes to 49 020 tonnes and bananas by 4 percent from 300 998 tonnes to 313 638 tonnes.
Two products saw a decrease in production, with peas decreasing by 29 percent from 3 976 tonnes to 2 832tonnes, and tea declining by 9 percent from 24 994 tonnes to 22 648 tonnes.
Recently, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka said the horticulture sub-sector was contributing immensely to the development and promotion of international trade. Minister Masuka also said Zimbabwe was renowned for the quality of its organic horticultural produce, which includes macadamia, avocadoes, blueberries, oranges, bananas, tea, coffee and pineapples.
Permanent Secretary of the same ministry Dr John Basera also gave blueberries as an example of the horticultural crop where Zimbabwe could expand production adding that its a high value crop that suited the Zimbabwean climatic conditions.
“We are going for growth and we are getting there and this horticulture export development fund will help to upscale our numbers in the horticulture export space,” he said.
“In 2016 we had zero hectares of blueberries but now we are talking of 400ha. We are targeting about 470ha this year of blueberries and this is a very high value crop. But what is so exciting is that as Zimbabwe we do endow good geographical and climatic advantages.
“We get into the blueberry market four weeks early and we get the early worm the best price, but we also last for an extended period of about two to three weeks at the other end of the season.” he said.
Horticulture can grow fast since Zimbabwe is well placed geographically and climatically to produce fresh and pure produce on good soils, pristine water and a variety of climatic conditions. Under the Presidential Rural Horticulture Transformation Plan, 2,3 million households will benefit from fruit production and village nutrition gardens this year.
The growth in air traffic and major increases in cargo space, especially for outbound flights, make it ever easier to export fresh produce.
Online Reporter