Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
Zimbabwe’s horticulture exports to the European Union (EU) are expected to increase, as the trading bloc has cut imports from one of its main suppliers (Kenya) by 55 percent due to concerns over pesticide regulations.
The country can take advantage of this supply gap to increase its horticulture exports to the EU.
The Fresh Plaza publication disclosed that the EU’s updated pesticide regulations have impacted Kenya’s vegetable exports, reducing their value by half in 2024.
The Economic Survey 2025 indicates a 54,7 percent decline in fresh vegetable exports, from 164 100 tonnes in 2023 to 74 300 tonnes in 2024. The export value declined from approximately US$340 million to US$156 million.
“The survey attributes this decline to Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) interceptions by destination markets.
“Kenyan beans and peas in pods were rejected due to concerns about pesticide residue levels exceeding MRLs,” stated the report.
MRL is the highest level of a pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in or on food or feed when pesticides are applied correctly in accordance with Good Agricultural Practice (GAP).
Mrs Linda Nielsen, chief executive of the Horticultural Development Council (HDC), said that the country’s horticulture sector continued to make steady strides in improving the quality standards required to access global markets.
“To fully capitalise on any opportunities that may arise in the market, we encourage coordinated action among producers, regulators and policymakers.
“This includes supportive policies that encourage investment to grow production, continued support for Global GAP certification and investment in trade logistics to enhance our competitiveness,” she said.
Mr Clarence Mwale, chairman of HDC’s Export Produce Growers Association of Zimbabwe (EPGAZ), stated that the country could take advantage of this and increase its supply to the EU.
“Right now, we are in winter for mangetout and sugar snap peas production, as well as blueberries.
“It’s not too late to take advantage of the supply gap brought about by these developments, though we still have to be wary of Peru, which is also a significant competitor,” he said.
The EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries have signed trade and development agreements (Economic Partnership Agreements — EPA) with the overall objective of leveraging trade and investment for sustainable development and thereby contributing to eradicating poverty.
EPAs are permanent partnerships that encourage a progressive shift from aid to trade and investment as engines of growth, jobs and poverty reduction.
They entail rights and obligations for both EU and ACP countries. They offer zero tariffs and unlimited quantities (duty and quota-free) for all products (except for arms).
The EU stated that EPAs also have flexible conditions (rules of origin) under which exporters in EPA countries could easily source from elsewhere the inputs they need to make their final products without losing their free access to the bloc.
EPA partners do not pay tariffs or duties on their exports to the EU, while they open their markets only partially to the EU (on average 80 per cent), with long transition periods for doing so.
Safeguard measures can be activated if surges in imports of EU products disturb local markets.
The agreements support ACP countries’ efforts to develop new industries and diversify their economies by shifting their reliance on commodities to higher-value products and services.
Meanwhile, statistics from TradeMap show that the country’s horticulture exports to EU rose 39 percent from US$78 814 000 in 2022 to US$109 577 000 last year.
The country exports edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons; edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers; live trees and other plants, bulbs, roots, cut flowers, and ornamental foliage; coffee, tea, mate, and spices; and preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other parts of plants.
