Zim Reclaiming Breadbasket Status . . . As Country Named World No.1 Blueberries Exporter

Wallace Ruzvidzo : Herald Reporter

ZIMBABWE has been listed among the world’s largest exporters of blueberries as the country’s revival of the agriculture sector continues to produce huge dividends with a global impact. Already, Zimbabwe has broken successive wheat production records as it has this season produced 468 000 tonnes of the special cereal with a surplus for export. The country also recently broke tobacco production records as it, for the first time in its history, produced almost 300 million kg of the golden leaf, with 210 million kg of that having already been exported and subsequently earning Zimbabwe over US$1 billion. Now, EastFruit, an international team of analysts which is the leading international information and analytical platform for the fruit and vegetable business in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus, announced Zimbabwe’s ascendancy to the top in blueberries production. These successive records in blueberry, wheat and tobacco production among other crops have come on the back of a scientific approach to agriculture by President Mnangagwa, whose major focus is agricultural modernisation and mechanisation for increased productivity and production. Thus, Zimbabwe is now targeting a US$13,75 billion agriculture sector economy by 2025 after it surpassed the initial US$8,2 billion target last year, well ahead of schedule. Commenting on Zimbabwe’s blueberry export achievement, Mr Andrij Yarmak, an economist at the investment department of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said Zimbabwe is proving to be a blueberry exporter of note as evidenced by trends over the last few years. Last year, the country’s blueberry exports grew by 85 percent, surpassing 5 000 tonnes thus earning a place in the top 15 global exporters list. ReadMore