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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Bureau
GOVERNMENT has been urged to prioritise horticulture and floriculture as key production sectors in agriculture and reopen European markets to improve on foreign currency earnings. Horticulture and floriculture farmers in Midlands Province told The Herald that the European Union was keen to re-engage the Zimbabwean markets and work with local farmers.

A horticulture and floriculture farmer in Midlands, Mr Tatenda Karimazondo, said floriculture, just like tobacco, had a great potential of generating foreign currency. He said most European countries were interested in working with local farmers and re-engage the Zimbabwean market for summer flowers and cut flowers.

“As horticulture and floriculture farmers we are appealing to Government to give us support in terms of re-engaging European markets, ensuring that we explore foreign markets and access inputs and chemicals,” said Mr Karimazondo. “We want Government to support us by making foreign currency available to us so that we explore European markets. There is great potential in horticulture and floriculture and we can even surpass tobacco in terms of foreign currency generation.”

Mr Karimazondo said Zimbabwe horticulture and floriculture industry used to perform better than Kenya. Meanwhile, Gweru-based horticulture farming concern — Fairhill Farm — is set to double flower exports this year, following the acquisition of irrigation equipment. Fairhill Farm managing director Mr Trevor Shaw said that the development would boost foreign currency earnings and create more jobs.

He said flower production constituted 10 percent of operations at the farm. The farm has been exporting flowers since 1996 and its major market is Europe. Floriculture accounts for at least 70 percent of the total value of horticultural exports and 30 percent by volume.

Currently, this amounts to 14 500 tonnes. Most exports, spanning a season from mid-September to late May, are channelled to the Dutch auctions.