Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
A new chapter in Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation is taking shape in Maphisa, Matabeleland South, where a 20-hectare citrus plantation has been established at the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) Antelope Estate as part of a wider drive to turn the 1 000-hectare property into a diversified agricultural hub.
The rows of young citrus trees now taking root on previously underutilised land at the estate represent more than just expansion. They point to a growing shift towards full land utilisation, rural industrialisation and value-added agriculture under the Second Republic.
The citrus project, introduced recently, is expected to expand to 200 hectares over time, bringing unused land into production, creating jobs and strengthening Zimbabwe’s position in the citrus sector.
Arda Antelope Estate, one of the country’s leading agricultural operations, is owned by the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority and run under a public-private partnership with local investor Mr Deane Leroux. The estate has earned recognition for strong crop yields and its contribution to national food security.
The latest move into citrus production is expected to further change the agricultural outlook of Matabeleland South.
Speaking during a recent tour of the estate, Mr Leroux said the project is part of a deliberate effort to ensure that all available land is used productively.
“We have planted 20 hectares of citrus as a trial and we would want to carry on planting every season to utilise all the land that we have not utilised under crop production. We are targeting to put 200 hectares of unutilised land under citrus production which we will be selling locally.
“We are targeting to put 200 hectares of unutilised land under citrus production, which we will be selling locally. We are targeting to have about 9 600 trees. We hope to break even after four years with an expected yield of 60 to 80 tonnes. Our core business will still be crops,” he said.
Beyond citrus, the estate remains one of the country’s key crop producers and is targeting 678 hectares of wheat this season, with an expected yield of eight tonnes per hectare.
The diversification comes as Zimbabwe steps up efforts to modernise agriculture and shift from traditional farming towards value addition, processing and commercialisation.
During a recent visit, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Davis Marapira said partnerships between Government and private investors are crucial to unlocking the full potential of the sector.
“Our country needs such farmers who will fully utilise the land they have been allocated. If you don’t have resources then you can partner with those who have so that land is fully utilised. We are seeing Rural Industrialisation 8.0 come to fruition in this province. We want farmers that will diversify and not only focus on one area.”
Dep Minister Marapira said agriculture must play a bigger role in driving industrial development and improving livelihoods.
“Farmers should continuously look out for new areas of farming which they can venture into. We are witnessing increased efforts to move beyond primary production to value addition, processing and commercialisation.
“This is key in creating jobs, improving incomes and uplifting livelihoods across our communities,” he said.
The expansion into citrus places ARDA Antelope Estate within a fast-growing industry that has become an important economic driver in Matabeleland South.
Zimbabwe’s citrus sector has in recent years shifted towards the southern Lowveld, particularly Beitbridge District, which offers suitable climatic conditions and irrigation systems for large-scale production.
Government is pushing to increase citrus production in Matabeleland South from 2 671 hectares to over 4 000 hectares as part of broader rural industrialisation plans.
Significant investments are already reshaping the province’s agricultural sector.
Projects such as the ongoing 63-kilometre Zhovhe-to-Beitbridge water canal are expected to unlock more irrigation land and boost agricultural output.
Major producers in the province include Toppick Investments’ Zhovhe Farm, which has about 800 hectares under citrus, while Nottingham Estate exports nearly 80 percent of its produce.
Orange Ville Estate, another major player, has a 700-hectare citrus plantation and a processing plant capable of handling up to 90 000 tonnes of oranges per season.
At Shashe Irrigation Scheme, smallholder farmers are also producing export-quality citrus on 66 hectares, providing jobs and new income streams for local communities.
The growth of the citrus sector has also supported value addition through facilities such as the Beitbridge Juice Plant, operated by Schweppes Zimbabwe, which processes thousands of tonnes of fruit each season.
Zimbabwean citrus is increasingly accessing international markets following the signing of a trade agreement with China, which has opened new export opportunities for fresh produce. — @DubeMatutu.
