Story by Gay Matambo
A farm in Burma Valley, Manicaland Province, is positioning itself for expansion as rising banana output strengthens Zimbabwe’s broader horticulture recovery drive.
The large-scale banana producer, one of the country’s leading horticultural enterprises, currently cultivates 329 hectares and is targeting an expansion to 650 hectares over the next few years. The growth strategy is aimed at increasing supply to both domestic and export markets.
The company is producing an average of about 50 tonnes of bananas annually, generating more than US$1 million in revenue each year, underscoring the growing contribution of horticulture to agricultural output and foreign currency earnings.
A visit to the farm on Friday highlighted the scale of operations and the role of commercial horticulture in revitalising the sector following years of decline.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said projects such as Matanuska were central to government’s horticultural recovery plan.
He noted that successful private-sector investments were helping to rebuild production capacity, create employment and improve export competitiveness.
