Covid-19 weighs on fresh produce market in Zimbabwe

Source: Covid-19 weighs on fresh produce market | The Sunday Mail Word from the market with AMA Horticulture is one of the sub-sectors underpinning the current agriculture transformation process. The 2020/ 2021 season recorded an increase in area and production under horticultural crops due to abundant rainfall received in many farming regions including urban areas. Notably, bananas, coffee, sugarcane and emerging crops such as blueberries all experienced increased production. These crops, together with more than 100 agricultural commodities are produced by small holder farmers with 75 percent traded through mass markets such as Mbare, Sakubva, Nkayi, Vhengere, Murehwa to mention, but a few. However, the benefits of improved production have not translated into good returns for most farmers due to a number of factors. A snap survey to assess the performance of horticultural markets in the first half of the year shows that despite the sector enjoying classification of essential ...