Zimbabwe’s horticultural exports recorded a significant growth in 2018, after more than $112 million worth of produce was exported, up from $50,9 million exported in 2017.
According to statistics provided by ZimTrade, the jump in horticulture exports was driven in part by the supply of produce that Zimbabwe was not previously exporting.
Zimtrade’s acting export development manager, Tatenda Murume, identified the low hanging fruits for the horticulture sector as passion fruit, fine beans, peas (mange tout and sugar snap, all berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries), baby vegetables such as carrots, baby corn, baby marrow, courgettes, chillies namely the birds eye, serenade among others and broccoli.
“Examples include blueberries, strawberries, passion fruit and stone fruits among others. Newer citrus, avocado, macadamia nuts plantations are maturing and have helped boost export volumes. This is a positive trend as we push to diversify our export basket,” said Mr Murume.
The super-foods that are increasingly popular in developed markets are avocados, moringa, turmeric, berries and broccoli upon which he has advised farmers to target these crops for prospective markets.
He also advised that exporters should take advantage of the demand for organic produce and the large markets. Murume said there is huge opportunity in growing organic produce, which fetches a premium of up to 30 percent.
Source: thezimbabwedaily.com
