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Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
DEMAND for Zimbabwe’s fresh produce continues to soar among leading buyers in Europe with horned melons (magaka eminzwa) generating a lot of interest at the just ended three-day fresh produce expo held in Berlin, Germany recently.
A team of 10 fresh produce companies managed to exhibit at the Berlin Fruit Logistica fair, thanks to the facilitation of the national trade development and promotion organisation, ZimTrade.
Fruit Logistica is the world’s most important trade fair for the fresh produce industry, thanks to its direct access to the global market. Exhibitors from over 90 countries gather on-site in Berlin with trade visitors from 140 countries. More than 80 percent of the international trade visitors are decision-makers.
At Fruit Logistica, the entire spectrum of the value chain from seed, fruit and vegetable development or packaging and automation is covered (from the producer to the consumer).
Fresh produce consists of fruit and vegetables, seeds and flowers to the organic-route of certified organic products.
In a recent X (formerly twitter) post, ZimTrade said: “We have 10 local companies exhibiting and more than 20 are participating in back-to-back meetings at one of the world’s largest fresh foods trade fair with more than 60 000 buyers from 140 countries. Zimbabwe grown horned melons (magaka eminzwa) are a major hit among buyers visiting the ZimTrade pavilion. We are testing the European markets on their take as it is our endeavour to promote heritage based natural products.”
The local horticulture promotion board, Horticultural Development Council (HDC), responded by publishing a picture of one of their members in the avocado industry, Makandi Estate managing director Mr Nick Shaxson doing a presentation at the fair. He was marketing Zimbabwean avocados to the World Avocado Organisation. Zimbabwe is now ranked the fifth largest exporter of the fruit in Africa.
Meanwhile, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is also exhibiting the capacity of tobacco growers in horticulture, as they are championing agricultural diversification for improved livelihoods at Fruit Logistica.
Zimbabwean multinational company, Tuminda, chief executive officer, Mr Clarence Mwale is also representing the country’s small to medium-scale farmers in their quest to secure markets for fresh produce at this year’s Fruit Logistica.
Founded in Zimbabwe, the company’s goal is to empower African farmers through providing access to markets.
“Fruit Logistica is the world’s most important trade fair for fresh produce and access to the global market where you can find complete range of products and services. We are representing small to medium-scale farmers in Zimbabwe and Africa through aggregation and compliance,” said the X post.
Statistics from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) show that country’s horticulture exports declined nine percent from US$73 093 080 in 2022 to US$66 769 926 last year.
In volume terms it dropped four percent from 123 017 605 to 116 984 194 kilogrammes over the same period.
The largest drop in earnings was exhibited by the berries sector that fell 33 percent from US$12 337 470 to US$8 287 762.
Online Reporter