THE Government’s re-engagement initiatives with the international community are beginning to pay off amid indications that trade protocols are at various stages of completion to allow the country to tap into the Americas, Asian and European agricultural markets through exports.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera revealed while addressing farmers during a fruit tree plantation field day in Murehwa recently.
“Allow me to highlight that the engagement and re-engagement efforts by the Second Republic have opened opportunities for farmers to access markets in Asia, Europe and Americas.
“Zimbabwe used to export fruits including mangoes to regional markets and Europe.
“It is high time we reclaim that position we have lost to South Africa, Egypt, Kenya and countries who are seemingly doing better than us at the moment.
“Of course, it all starts with our vision, goals and the enabling environment to achieve the right quantities, quality specifications and the right mandatory and voluntary standards as required by the destination markets of our fruits,” observed Dr Basera.
His made the after touring two fields of fruit trees, one belonging to the Chipere and the other to the Matonga family.
The Chiperes have a field of 1 300 mango trees, 650 nartjies, 800 smooth lemon trees and 50 avocado trees. They also have a large nursery of different types of trees amounting to 60 000 plants.
The Matonga family has a large orchard of 250 mango trees, some nartjies, 100 orange trees, eureka lemon trees (100) as well as dozens of avocado trees.
Dr Basera commended the two families for their hard work and encouraged others to emulate them.
“Trees are life and their contribution is immense when priority is given to fruit trees that are used for both food security and income generation.
“Imagine establishing in excess of one million fruit trees each year. Whisper to whoever is close to you and tell them it can be done and it begins with them,” said Dr Basera.
Dr Basera was also quick to remind the farmers that they could only export what would have been produced and urged them to green their homes with fruit trees. The market is there, he added.
“As a country, we are emphasising on moving up the value chain (value addition) to retain more value locally and enjoy better prices.
“This presents huge opportunities in the areas of installing cold chain systems, opening aggregation centres and other marketing and trade services to complete the fruit value chain,” he said.
Mashonaland East Province has a great potential to lead the country in realising the benefits of growing fruit trees, which are fast-proving to be capable of contributing significantly in transitioning livelihoods of all Zimbabweans to an upper middle-income level, he said.
Dr Basera challenged farmers to plant more fruit trees saying markets for their produce were there, ready and waiting.
A pastor and farmer, Mr Happymore Chipere expressed his joy at the prospects of exporting value added products soon.
“This project has transformed our lives in a huge manner and we are not going to stop planting fruit trees. We have reached a stage where we even send our children to school through this project.
“We are targeting local markets across the country.
“We sell fibreless mangoes mainly and are earning a lot of money from them. We aim to tap into the international markets soon,” he said.
Mrs Nyaradzayi Matonga said since they started fruit tree growing in 2004 they had never looked back.
“We started in 2004 and every year we realise huge profits from selling fruits.
“We are also creating employment for locals. Our aim is to explore international markets. Farming is a business and we are now planning to plant more fruit trees at our farm in Macheke.
“I want to urge others to plant a lot of fruit trees and consider starting businesses of selling fruits. It’s a good project.”
Meanwhile, the Government has made significant strides towards availing funding to the horticulture sub-sector through a US$30 million revolving facility.
The horticulture sector is currently contributing in excess of US$65 million and targets to reach export proceeds in excess of US$143 million by end of 2024. – The Herald
