Zimpapers Logo

Monalisa Chikwengo

THE citrus industry is on a positive growth trajectory with hectarage for oranges increasing from 4 124 hectares to 4 174 hectares in the 2022/23 season while lemons expanded from 1691 hectares to 1706 hectares, marking one percent change for both products, the Government has revealed.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera said all citrus producing areas that include Beitbridge, Mazowe Valley, Chegutu, Headlands, Chipinge, Rusitu Valley and Shashe Irrigation Scheme had recorded a surge in production with higher yields for the 2022/23 harvest season compared to the previous term.

Speaking during the Citrus Investment Indaba launch held at Cresta Lodge in Harare recently, Dr Basera said the significant increase in citrus production was a positive sign for the industry, as it suggests a growing demand for the fruits.

Citrus is one key value-chain with great potential, he observed.

“Orange fruit production increased by six percent to 179, 482 tonnes from 169, 084 tonnes the previous year with lemons also recording a similar percentage change from 67, 640 tonnes to 71, 652 tonnes in the previous season,” he said.

Horticultural production is poised to grow fast in Zimbabwe given that the country is well placed geographically and climatically to produce fresh and pure produce on good soils, pristine water and a variety of climatic conditions.

“Deciduous fruit production increased by nine percent from 8, 675 to 9, 447 tonnes while apples increased from 4, 708 tonnes to 6, 076 tonnes,” he added.

The event that was organised by his Ministry working with the Horticulture Development Council (HDC) was designed to help unlock farmlands’ potential for a sustainable transformation of the country’s key sector.

“Recently, our country and China signed a trade protocol that enables us to export citrus fruits into the Chinese market. However, current production is still very low, we are still falling short of satisfying the export markets,” he said.

The Chinese market and other existing markets present a strong opportunity for the growth of the citrus value chain in the country.

“Citrus exports to the EU grew by 30 percent between September 2021 and March 2022 when fruits amounting to about 1, 7 million tonnes were exported compared to the same period in the 2020/21 period,” said Dr Basera.