Zimbabwe has the world’s fastest-growing blueberry industry

Published 2024년 11월 23일

Tridge summary

Zimbabwe is experiencing rapid growth in its blueberry industry, with exports increasing from 0 to 5,500 tonnes in just one year, making it the fastest-growing blueberry industry in the world. The industry's expansion is currently limited by a lack of investment capital, with the country aiming to reach 30,000 metric tonnes of blueberries by 2030 with an estimated $240 million in new investment. The country's horticulture sector, which includes traditional exports like citrus and new high-demand crops like blueberries, is showing significant growth. However, the industry faces challenges such as unfavorable foreign exchange policies, high borrowing costs, and water scarcity due to climate change. The country is also reviewing the best routes to market and has signed a new trade protocol for Zimbabwean avocados with China, with plans to increase avocado hectarage from 1,500 to 4,000 hectares by 2030.

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Original content

Source: Zimbabwe has the world’s fastest-growing blueberry industry Investment capital is holding back Zimbabwe from getting to their goal of 30,000 metric tonnes of blueberries grown by 2030, remarks Linda Nielsen, the CEO of the Horticultural Development Council. Zimbabwe has already seen “incredible” growth in their blueberry sector, surging from the first exports in 2017 to 5,500 tonnes exported last year, making their blueberry industry the fastest-growing in the world. “This year we’re aiming for 8,000 tonnes. However, the expansion is not from new plantings, but from plant maturity because we still don’t have enough capital to expand,” Nielsen says. She mentions challenges such as unfavourable foreign exchange policies and high borrowing costs holding back the sector’s full potential. “Our long-term goal is to reach 1,500 hectares of blueberry cultivation by 2030, producing 30,000 metric tonnes. This could bring in as much revenue as our total horticultural exports did back ...

Source: Zimbabwesituation