Zimbabwe: Chipinge farmers attain organic certification

Published Aug 27, 2021

Tridge summary

Forty-five smallholder pineapple farmers in Rusitu Valley, Chimpinge, who were affected by Cyclone Idai, have received organic certification from EcoCert for their pineapples, allowing them to access the lucrative organic fruit market. This certification will allow them to fetch a 30% premium on their produce in European supermarkets, improving their livelihoods. The certification project was developed by ZimTrade and supported by other partners, and will be replicated across the country with different produce. The government's devolution agenda aims to ensure that all districts are exporting something.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Forty — five smallholder pineapple farmers in Rusitu Valley, Chipinge, the majority of whom are victims of Cyclone Idai that killed hundreds and destroyed homes in 2019, have received a major boost following the organic certification of their pineapples by EcoCert. The Ecocert Organic Standard is an independent French body for organic inspection and certification, which performs quality control by ensuring that all product specifications and production procedures are strictly adhered to. This attainment of the organic certification is a critical milestone in reaching the lucrative organic fruit market, especially in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, and other emerging markets such as United Arab Emirates. With the organic standard, smallholder pineapple farmers operating under Rusitu Valley Fruit Growers and Marketing Trust (RVFGMT), will unlock access to the global pineapple market, which has grown from US$2,25 billion in 2011 to US$2,6 billion in 2019, according to Trade ...

Source: All Africa