Zimbabwean horticultural farmers are targeting the production of 30,000 metric tonnes of blueberries by 2030, but are being hindered by a lack of investment capital.
Since the first blueberry exports in 2017, Zimbabwe’s blueberry industry has experienced “incredible” growth, reaching 5,500 tonnes exported last year. This rapid expansion has made the country’s blueberry sector the fastest-growing in the world.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.freshplaza.com/africa/article/9680197/zimbabwe-has-the-world-s-fastest-growing-blueberry-industry/">Fresh Plaza</a>, Linda Nielsen, CEO of the Horticultural Development Council, said that challenges such as unfavourable foreign exchange policies and high borrowing costs are preventing the sector from reaching its full potential. Said Nielsen:
<blockquote>
This year we’re aiming for 8,000 tonnes. However, the expansion is not from new plantings, but from plant maturity because we still don’t have enough capital to expand.
Our long-term goal is to reach 1,500 hectares of blueberry cultivation by 2030, producing 30,000 metric tonnes.
This could bring in as much revenue as our total horticultural exports did back in the 1990s.
But to do this, we estimate that growers would need a major investment of around US$240 million in new investment.
Zimbabwe’s overall horticulture sector has shown significant growth in recent years with exports currently above 113 million metric tonnes, largely attributed to the resilience of traditional exports such as citrus and the emergence of high-demand crops like blueberries.
</blockquote>
Nielsen said that Zimbabwe’s horticultural plans can only succeed with adequate water resources, noting that climate change is a reality the country’s farms are addressing through improved water management and storage techniques.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Zimbabwe wants to grow lots of blueberries by 2030, but not enough money. They exported 5,500 tonnes of blueberries last year. Their goal is 30,000 metric tonnes. Challenges like bad exchange rates and high costs stop them from growing more. They need $240 million to expand. Blueberries are becoming more popular in Zimbabwe and can make a lot of money. They need enough water and have to deal with climate change. Their horticulture sector is growing fast, with many exports. They need help to keep growing and reach their goals.

Zimbabwe Targets 30,000 Metric Tonnes Of Blueberries By 2030

Zimbabwe’s blueberry production, one of the country’s fastest-growing crops, is under threat from a currency crisis and high borrowing costs, the Horticultural Development Council (HDC) has said.
HDC is a non-profit, membership-driven organisation in the export horticultural industry.
According to HDC, Zimbabwe doubled its blueberry production to 7 000 metric tonnes this year.
The country’s climatic conditions allow high yields from open-field planting and early delivery into export markets.
However, plantings, which have expanded by nearly 800 percent to 575 hectares since 2018, stagnated this year as farmers grappled with high borrowing costs and the impact of a volatile economic climate. Reuters quoted HDC as saying:
<blockquote>
There were no significant new blueberries in 2023 as growers recovered from a tough 2022. An additional 100 hectares is anticipated only in 2024.
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The HDC said high interest rates and limited access to long-term financing are negatively affecting blueberry farmers who only receive 75 percent of their export earnings in United States dollars.
The farmers are also seeking income tax holidays, a removal of import duty for key inputs and a reduction in land levies to promote the industry which is still in its infancy. Said HDC:
<blockquote>
Unless policy issues are resolved, this promising industry risks stagnation and Zimbabwe will miss out on a strong opportunity to position itself as a leader on the global stage.
</blockquote>
According to <a href="https://east-fruit.com/en/news/surprisingly-zimbabwe-becomes-a-global-leader-in-blueberry-export-growth/">EastFruit</a>, Zimbabwe’s blueberry exports are currently growing faster than any other country in the world.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe’s Economic Challenges Threaten Emergent Blueberry Sector

A Zimbabwean blueberries farmer, Bob Henson, says he is expecting to export between 1 000 to 1 200 tonnes of blueberries from this year going forward.
Blueberries are a horticultural crop highly suitable to Zimbabwean soils, climate and conditions and a kilogramme can cost as high as US$6.
Henson, who owns Ivanhoe Farm in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East, and is DripTech managing director, said:
<blockquote>
This crop costs about US$100 000 per hectare to plant and it will yield that much foreign currency every year going forward.
This year we are expecting to export between 1 000 to 1 200 tonnes of blueberries.
The total Zimbabwean production is 5 000 tonnes and we export to Russia and the Middle East, but most of our exports go to a company in the United Kingdom for distribution across Europe.
On average a kilogramme costs between US$2.50 and US$6 depending on demand.
We have created 1 000 jobs and we want to repeat the same model across the country because we want to work with communities.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/horticulture-cash-crop-farming-on-the-rise-in-zim/">The Herald</a>

Goromonzi Blueberries Farmer Set To Export 1 200 Tonnes

Zimbabwe’s horticultural sector is on a recovery path, with the Government targeting to raise exports to US$500 million by 2025.
According to ZimTrade, horticulture exports in 2021 grew by 6.8 per cent to US$64.6 million from US$59.5 million recorded in 2020.
Macadamia nuts exports contributed US$13.8 million, citrus at US$10.9 million, vegetables at US$4.2 million and flowers at US$3.2 million.
Recently, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, John Basera, said the country was now the biggest exporter of blueberries in the SADC region supplying 5 000 tonnes a year. He said:
<blockquote>
We are inspecting the horticulture recovery growth in motion and we believe that we are moving in the right direction in terms of getting back to those glory numbers where Zimbabwe used to export US$143 million a year in terms of horticultural exports.
Currently, we are sitting at around US$60 million to US$70 million a year and we need to double that in the next year. By 2025 we need to approach US$500 million.
Blueberry is one of those high-value horticultural options which we definitely need to promote.
We have many advantages as Zimbabwe in terms of geographical and climate advantages.
We need to promote more hectarage under blueberries and we believe that horticulture is a low hanger in achieving some of the objectives of Vision 2030.
</blockquote>
He said this while on a tour of Palmlife Blueberry Project at Ivanhoe Farm in Goromonzi which produces more than 1 000 tonnes annually.
Horticulture contributes about 6.5 per cent to total agricultural output and 0.7 per cent of Zimbabwe’s total gross domestic product.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/horticulture-cash-crop-farming-on-the-rise-in-zim/">The Herald</a>

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