Zimbabwe's blueberry industry is urging the government to introduce investment-friendly policies following an export agreement signed in September that opened access to the Chinese market for the first time.
Before the deal, exports were limited to Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. With Peru and Chile dominating blueberry shipments to China, Zimbabwe aims to build a competitive foothold.
According to the Horticultural Development Council (HDC), national production is projected to rise from 8,000 tons in 2024 to 12,000 tons in 2025, a 50% increase. The council said the deal builds on the 2024 avocado export protocol and supports the horticultural sector's ambition to reach an annual export value of US$2 billion.
"Driven by the trend towards healthy lifestyles, China's blueberry imports have surged from 665 tons in 2005 to nearly 39,000 tons in 2024, mainly sourced from Peru and Chile," the HDC stated. "The entry of Zimbabwean blueberries, known for their unique taste and texture, brings a new source of supply to that market."
Clarence Mwale, CEO of Kuminda and HDC board member, said the agreement creates major opportunities but requires supportive government policies. "Blueberry production requires a lot of capital, and it's not easy to borrow money when the interest rate is very high. We could use foreign direct investment, but it is chased away naturally by the policies that we have in place, so that complicates everything," he said.
Mwale estimated that more than US$100 million is needed to expand production to 1,500 hectares. He added that restrictive foreign currency laws and high borrowing costs discourage investors and exporters. "Existing laws make it difficult for investors to take their money out of the country," he said, noting that exporters currently receive only 30% of earnings in local currency.
China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) has set strict import requirements, including registration and audits for orchards, packing houses, and quarantine facilities. Exporters must also follow sanitary and pest-control procedures to prevent contamination by fruit flies, scales, and mealybugs.
The GACC said non-compliant or unregistered shipments would be rejected or destroyed.
Source: Farmer's Weekly
