Zimbabwe horticulture exports fall by $13 million

Zimbabwe exported horticultural products worth $83 million in 2016, down from $96 million the previous year, according to the trade promotion agency, Zimtrade.

“Horticulture exports have shown a steady increase from $71 million in 2012 to $96 million in 2015, although there was a dip in 2016 to $83 million,” Zimtrade chief executive, Sithembile Pilime said at the launch of the Fit- for- Market programme managed by the Europe- Africa- Caribbean-Pacific Committee.

The programme is expected to help boost horticulture production and export capacity in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

Local horticultural products that are exported include flowers, fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices, essential oils and tree nuts.

According to the European Union statistical office, major markets for Zimbabwean horticultural products include The Netherlands, United Kingdom, German, Lithuania, Spain, Portugal and France.

At peak, Zimbabwe horticulture exports  amounted to $143 million in the 1999/2000 season, contributing 4.5 percent to the country’s gross domestic product.

Pilime said more investment should be channelled on infrastructure, transport logistics, access to market information and  affordable finance to improve the sector.- The Source

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