Harare - State owned farming company, Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has revived horticulture exports through a public private partnership (PPP) business model aimed at sourcing capital at concessionary rates.
ARDA has in the past few years failed to export its produce due to low yields and lack of capital, among other constraints.
However, ARDA’s conclusion of PPP deals with local corporates has led to a fresh capital injection.
“Restored productivity coupled with increased land utilisation has seen ARDA reviving horticulture exports. We shall continue to do our best on that aspect as we seek to restore viability while ensuring increased business activity and foreign currency generation,” ARDA Board Chairperson, Mr Basil Nyabadza said.
Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector is focusing on increased exports to generate more foreign exchange, create new jobs and positively contribute to yearly economic growth rates.
According to trade promotion agency, the country’s horticultural exports amounted to $72.1 million in 2015 which it says was a significant increase from $49 million the previous year but still about half of the country’s peak output recorded in 1999/2000 season.
In 2015, Netherlands was the biggest single buyer of Zimbabwe’s fresh produce, accounting for $32.6 million (45 percent) of total horticulture exports, according to Zimtrade figures.
The European Union consumed the bulk of Zimbabwe’s exports, with the United Kingdom ($13.5 million), Germany ($5.3 million), France ($3.2 million) and Poland ($2.9 million) taking up a combined $57.5 million worth of horticultural produce.
Citrus was Zimbabwe’s leading export horticulture product in 2015, making up 32 percent of total volumes, followed by flowers at 25 percent, peas at 19 percent, dried leguminous vegetables at 11 percent, berries at 7 percent while an assortment of other produce made up the remaining 6 percent.
Zimbabwe’s horticulture sector, whose export performance peaked at $143 million in the 1999/2000 season, has not been spared by the effects of a controversial land reform programme driven by President Robert Mugabe since 2000.
The oft-violent and chaotic programme has seen major horticultural producers such as Kondozi Estate in Manicaland and Marondera’s Mitchell & Mitchell, which had a combined $50 million in annual export sales, being forcibly seized, run down and looted by senior government officials.
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