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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
The Government’s policies meant to grow the horticulture sector are now bearing fruit as the sub-sector continues to contribute immensely to earnings.
The country is targeting to generate export proceeds of US$143 million by the end of 2024.
Last year, the Government launched a US$30 million Horticulture Export Revolving Fund (HERF) to enhance the horticulture sector’s contribution to the growth of the country’s export earnings and economic growth. The funding was basically focusing on supporting horticulture farmers and those involved in exports.
Recently, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Dr John Basera also gave blueberries as an example of the horticultural crop which Zimbabwe could expand on production adding that it was 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 enjoy good geographical and climatic advantages. We get into the blueberry market four weeks early and we get the early worm at 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, makes it ever easier to export fresh produce
The Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment report (CLAFA) 2 for the 2022/23 summer season that was recently released by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development indicates that there was an overall increase in production of horticultural crops for the 2022/23 season.
The report showed that production of blueberries increased significantly by 69 percent from 3 420 tonnes last season to 5 787 tonnes this season.
Irish potato production increased by 12 percent from 534 543 tonnes last season to 599 550 tonnes this season. Onions rose by 32 percent from 220 625 tonnes last season to 290 628 tonnes this season with leafy vegetables growing by 35 percent from 194 152 tonnes to 261 960 tonnes.
Cabbage increased by 29 percent from 471 555 to 607 392 tonnes.
Tomato production increased by 19 percent from 281 610 to 336 300 tonnes while peas production decreased by 29 percent from 3 976 to 2 832 tonnes.
Oranges increased by six percent from 169 084 to 179 482 tonnes with lemons also rising by six percent 67 640 to 71 652 tonnes this season.
On the other hand, tea production declined by nine percent from 24 994 to 22 648 tonnes this season. Deciduous fruits – peaches and nectarines increased by nine percent from 4 708 to 6076 tonnes.
Macadamia production recorded a one percent rise from 48 600 to 49 020 tonnes with bananas increasing by four percent from 300 998 to 313 638 tonnes.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust president, Mrs Depinah Nkomo said there was need for empowerment of smallholder farmers on infrastructural development and also on market requirements.
“Smallholder farmers, especially women, require irrigation infrastructure so they can produce high value crops throughout the year.
“Some of the women have the zeal to produce but lack technical expertise and do not have adequate information on the market requirements,” she said.
Mr Tamuka Marowa of Glen View indicated that improved access to markets and the provision of loans and revolving funds would play a critical role in supporting the horticulture sector.
“There is a need to implement various initiatives to ensure the horticulture sector is indeed flourishing countrywide and farmers should meet and share knowledge and skills on how best they can boost the sector .
“Capacity building initiatives for farmers coupled with investment support training and dissemination of post-harvest research and technologies are vital.
“Training is needed to ensure success in terms of production with farmers expected to embrace horticulture farming and take agriculture as a business,” he said
Another farmer Mrs Charity Muchemwa of Goromonzi said lack of access to markets is the major setback to most horticulture farmers adding that improved access to markets is one of the initiatives, which the Government should implement to ensure that horticulture farmers get maximum profits.
“There is a need to improve access to markets through the establishment of a horticultural markets standards body to ensure that horticulture farmers get maximum profits,” said Mrs Muchemwa.
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