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Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
ZIMBABWE intends to significantly boost its blueberry export capacity from the projected 8 000 tonnes this year to 30 000 tonnes by 2030, if the unavailability of patient capital and other operational challenges are addressed.
The Horticultural Development Council (HDC) yesterday said it was critical to have the right policies in place, avail patient capital and address current operational challenges to meet the target.
Also, in a recent update, the HDC said blueberries were currently being cultivated on 570 hectares, with this figure expected to rise to 1 500 by 2030, if a substantial investment of patient capital around US$240 million is availed.
“In 2024, the industry expects to increase output to 8 000 tonnes with this growth coming from plant maturity and higher yields rather than new plantings. This reflects the funding challenges that the industry continues to face, despite the recent growth,” the HDC said.
Among the challenges militating against the envisaged growth are issues such as security of land tenure, poor road infrastructure in some areas, the high costs of utilities and an unfavourable exchange rate system, the HDC continued.
“We are working with the Zimbabwe Investment Development Authority (ZIDA) to establish special economic zones and sector-specific incentives. This would offer tax breaks and incentives to attract investment. Energy costs are high, but this presents opportunities for investments in renewable energy for irrigation and the cold chain infrastructure,” said the HDC.
Zimbabwe’s unique selling proposition (USP) in the blueberry industry is quality, taste and production time.
Currently, Zimbabwean berries access the European Union (EU) markets through the Netherlands, which acts as a hub for fresh produce into the bloc.
Zimbabwe’s next major target is to enter the Indian and Chinese markets with the HDC currently working towards a phytosanitary agreement for blueberries with these new markets.
In a recent X (formerly Twitter) post, Netherlands ambassador to Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia, Mrs Margret Verwijk concurred, saying 6 million kilogrammes of Zimbabwean blueberries had been shipped to Amsterdam (the gateway to Europe), Hong Kong and Middle East and a Dutch company, FX Logistics was helping Zimbabwean the farmers.
Meanwhile, statistics from Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) show that the value of berries marginally rose one percent from US$2 134 545 in the first half of 2023 to US$2 150 936 in the comparable period this year.
In volume terms, it declined from 1 190 916kgto 1 187 593kg. With this confirmed consignment in Netherlands and July and August shipments, the 8 000 tonnes forecast for this year is most likely going to be surpassed.
Zimbabwe’s blueberry industry began with small experimental plantings in 2008 but it was not until 2017 that the country made its debut on the global market with its first commercial exports of the crop.
The blueberry hectarage has since then grown to 507 in 2023. The blueberry marketing season runs between April and October with 60 percent of the product reaped between August and October.
There was a five-year phenomenal export earnings growth in the berries sub-sector of 810 percent from US$1 million in 2018 to US$12 million in 2022 as the operationalisation of the Horticulture Recovery Growth Plan (HRGP) gathers pace.
Statistics from Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) show that the value export earnings from the berries’ subsector grew 810 percent from US$1 285 686 in 2018 to US$12 337 470 in 2022.
In volume terms it rose 769 percent from 527 134kg in 2018 to 4 582 185kg in 2022.
Online Reporter