Fruit farmers target Europe
Local fruit farmers are targetting Europe.
By Kenneth Matimaire
MUTARE — Commercial farmers in Nyanga who specialise in peaches and nectarines production are exporting 20 percent of their total produce to the lucrative European Union market.
Peaches and nectarines are members of the Prunus genus that also includes plums, apricots, and cherries and are closely related.
They commonly are referred to as “stone fruits” because the seed is very large and hard.
Although stone fruit crops can provide delicious fruit from June through September, most stone fruits are native to warmer climates of the world and therefore are very susceptible to injury from low winter temperatures, according to experts.
They also bloom early in the spring, a situation that normally leads to the flowers suffering damage from spring frosts, the experts contend.
Harvesting of stone fruit commenced three weeks ago and close to 183 metric tonnes of peaches and nectarines is expected to find their way into the European market.
Stone fruits’ annual output stands at 915 metric tonnes from about 48 hectares.
It is projected to that there will be a 21 percent increase in production during the next season.
This will bring the total export output to 223 metric tonnes since the projected annual production for 2017 is 1 115 metric tonnes.
“The stone fruit producers export 15 to 20 percent of their output to Europe and the remainder is sold locally,” said Edward Buwu, the chairperson of the Deciduous Fruit Growers Association (DFGA).
Buwu said like other sectors, the country was relying on imports to meet consumption demand.
“Imports of stone fruits are allowed into the country during the period September to February. The imports will compete with the local crop and will result in very low and sub economical prices for the local farmers,” he said.
Nyanga’s large scale peach and nectarine farms cover under 36 hectares, with an annual production of 700 metric tonnes earmarked to rise to 900 metric tonnes in 2017.
Small scale farmers and cottages produced 140 metric tonnes and 75 metric tonnes this year, which will be maintained during the next season.
Buwu said Zimbabwe has potential to become the region’s second largest export source for deciduous fruits after South Africa given its existing infrastructure and favourable weather.
South Africa has already opened up networks on the African continent which Zimbabwe can tap into, he said.
However, Buwu pointed out that the sector has not been spared by the harsh economic environment, which has crippled operations.
“In summary, the challenges facing the industry include increased production costs, under capitalisation, inadequate local funding structures, climate variability, inadequate research and extension and lack of investments.
“The industry players need to establish a platform to promote their products on various networks so as to become competitive on the domestic market and continue to investigate export opportunities,” he said.