Chronicle Editor
Njabulo Bhebe, Farming Reporter
A NAMIBIAN horticultural expert says there is a need for Zimbabwe to adopt a market share promotion scheme model in its bid to increase the production of fresh produce in the country.
In an interview with Sunday News Business recently, Agro Marketing and Trade Agency of Namibia (AMTA) managing director Mr Lucas Lungameni said through adopting and embracing the market share promotion scheme, Zimbabwe could revive and reclaim its status as one of the biggest producers of fresh vegetables and fruits in southern Africa.
“Zimbabwe was once one of southern Africa’s big producers of horticultural products and this has vanished due to the failure of maintaining a vibrant local market to sustain the sector. The market share scheme will ensure that local producers have a ready market for their products and it reduces dependency on imports which will increase exports,” he said.
The market share promotion is a threshold that determines how much all importers of fresh fruit and vegetables need to source locally before they are granted import permits. Mr Lungameni said the market share promotion has seen horticultural produce being one of Namibia’s top export revenue earners.
“Currently our major exports are horticulture products, which through the adoption of the market share scheme we have managed to dominate the South African market. We have set up infrastructure adequate enough to ensure that our products are packaged in a manner that corresponds with international standards. Although we are exporting, we have kept a vibrant local market through ensuring that imports don’t flood the market as our retailers are only allowed to import after buying 47 percent locally,” he said.
The production of horticulture exported by Namibia in 2017/18 grew to 13 946 tonnes while the production that was marketed locally increased to 28 599 tonnes in 2017/18 from 24 442 tonnes in 2016/17. The most productive vegetable exported by Namibia to South Africa and Angola is onion and the most productive fruits exported are grapes.
Despite witnessing a surge in the export of horticultural produce, Namibia is still in need of an array of a number of fresh fruits and vegetables, presenting Zimbabwe with an opportunity to tap into the market.
“Namibia is in need of an alternative supplier of horticultural produce. South Africa and Zimbabwe stand a better chance to fill in that gap while at the same time our country is willing to do the same. Let’s utilise the trade agreements that exist between the two (Zimbabwe and Namibia) countries,” said Mr Lungameni.
Bongani Ndlovu