Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Online Reporter
THE Horticultural Development Council (HDC) is optimistic that the country’s horticulture exports will rise over three times from US$120 million in 2024 to US$500 million next year as it lays out its development plan up to 2030.
This came up at the fourth edition of the horticulture investment forum held in Harare recently, where stakeholders met to share ideas on how to achieve the US$2,5 billion horticulture industry by 2030.
The event hosted by the council saw investors pitching directly to Zimbabwe’s horticulture industry on the projects and opportunities they sought.
The 2025 investment forum was held under the theme: “Cultivating Growth: Horticulture Investors’ Pitch to the Zimbabwe Economy”.
The council’s chief executive, Mrs Linda Nielsen, said over the six-year period they envisage the horticulture industry to grow to over 20 times to US$2,5 billion.
“We expect exports to reach US$500 million by 2026 and hope to grow it by US$500 million annually thereafter,” she said.
“It will be US$1 billion by 2027, US$1,5 billion in 2028, US$2 billion in 2029 and US$2,5 billion by 2030,” she said.
To achieve the 2030 milestones the 2025/26-time frame will be the brand launch period where bankability programmes and initial investments are secured.
“The period 2027 to 2028 will be focused on scaled production, infrastructure build up and market expansion,” she said.
“The 2029 to 2030 period is seized with attainment of the US$2, 5 billion target under sustainability.”
Peter Tanyanyiwa