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.
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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 Map. With the organic standard, the rural smallholder farmers will be able to fetch as much as 30 percent premium on their produce in most supermarkets in Europe. This will improve their returns as well as boost their livelihoods from producing this niche product. The certification project for Ndiadzo pineapple farmers, operating under the Rusitu Fruit Growers and Marketing Trust was developed as a pilot project by ZimTrade -- the national trade development and promotion organization -- ...
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