US$6m citrus project to boost exports Zimbabwe and China last year signed a citrus trade protocol that was initiated in 2015 for the export of oranges for smallholder growers under the Shashi irrigation scheme.

Herald Reporter

A major US$6 million investment in citrus has seen leading Chinese firm, China Industrial International Group (CIIG) with interests in construction and agriculture, importing approved seeds for two million citrus trees and commissioning a greenhouse complex in Mazowe where the seedlings are now growing.

The seeds arrived from China recently and are already germinating. 

The investment sees a major outgrower system with local farmers growing the trees from seedlings supplied by China Industrial, and then the harvested fruit coming in a few years as the trees grow being sold in primarily export markets. 

There is already a trade deal with China setting the health conditions required for exports of citrus products to China.

China Industrial CEO Mr Nie Haiyang said the company seeks to boost the local agriculture sector in line with the Second Republic’s Vision 2030 of an empowered upper middle income economy.

“Our seeds are germinating and after signing an agreement with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, we have built a compliant citrus seedling virus isolation greenhouse in Mazowe and a classroom for citrus training and introduction to the Chinese citrus market,” he said.

“At present, Chinese citrus varieties are among the best in the world and the prevention and control of the diseases and pests and citrus processing technology has also reached top levels in the world. 

“China Industrial has made a detailed plan for the selection of varieties, seeds and seedlings for Chinese markets as well as training for breeding and processing.”

China Industrial will cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and individual farmers to ensure that orders for China meet the requirements of the Chinese markets. 

At the same time, said Mr Nie, the company will provide inter-planting plans for other crops supporting citrus cultivation and ensure the approval of Chinese markets. So far China Industrial has already spent over US$1,8 million on the project.

The money has been channelled towards construction of a workshop, greenhouses and laboratories and for irrigation equipment.

Besides venturing into citrus seedling production, China Industrial is planning to move into beef production for export in the near future while expanding its fruit production beyond citrus to later include peaches, apples and grapes for export to markets in China and other countries, guided by Zimbabwean laws and international food standards.

“The project will not only boost the agriculture sector especially on the side of citrus, but also is creating employment for the locals.

“Going forward, China Industrial will contract local farmers interested in the production of citrus,” said Mr Nie.

Zimbabwe launched the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy in 2020, and declared that the sector should become an US$8,2 billion industry by 2025.

However, following a harvest realised in the 2020-2021 farming season, the country almost achieved the target in one year and experts are calling on the Government to review the target.

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