Story by Owen Mandovha, Business Reporter
Zimbabwe is emerging as the leading producer of blueberries on the African continent, supplying key export markets outside the continent.
Local horticulture products shipping firm, FX Logistics has revealed that it is now handling six million kilogrammes of blueberries destined for the European Union, Middle East and some parts of Asia.
Horticultural expert, Clarence Mwale says it is a remarkable turnaround for the subsector which was non-existent seven years ago.
“Indeed, the market is growing because blueberries are now producing 100 percent of their capacity, whereas each plant produces up to 7 kilogrammes. So this means we are probably producing more than 50 percent of what we were producing three years ago,” he said.
According to trade promotion body Zimtrade, the country’s unique climatic conditions are ideal for production of the best quality blueberries, while interventions are creating new markets.
“ZIMTRADE has made numerous trips to the yearly Fruit Logistica to promote our own blueberries and we are glad to say our climate makes us produce the best fruit. Our climate also enables us to also produce the best quality fruit,” said ZIMTRADE export development manager, Mr Tatenda Marume.
Blueberries are being produced at a large scale, on farms measuring up to 100 hectares, whie companies like Kuminda are incentivising small scale production and then aggregating production to increase national production.
