Zimbabwe, Nicaragua Eye Pork Value Chain Collabora...

Zimbabwe, Nicaragua Eye Pork Value Chain Collaboration

Oscar J Jeke Zim Now Reporter

A Zimbabwean delegation and Nicaragua’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Nadeska Cuthbert, toured the Pig Industry Board, exploring potential partnerships to strengthen pork value chains in both countries.

The visit, hosted by senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and the PIB, aimed to identify joint opportunities in pig production, processing, and marketing. Representatives discussed strategies to improve genetic stock, collective marketing, and access to regional and international markets.

Ambassador Cuthbert highlighted Zimbabwe's achievements in shared agricultural models during her visit with Vice President Dr. Constantino Chiwenga last July, indicating strong mutual interest in replicating Zimbabwe’s pork value chain successes in Nicaragua

Zimbabwe’s ongoing VALUE programme, funded by the EU and implemented by the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme, has to date organized over 56,000 small-scale pig farmers, formed producer business syndicates, and delivered improved breeding stock to local producers efforts aimed at boosting productivity and competitiveness nationwide.

Discussions during the PIB tour centered on expanding these gains through cooperative exchange, technical support, and possible investment channels. Ambassador Cuthbert, speaking during the tour, said both nations “share a lot in common” and aim to develop “closer cooperation in agri-business” placing emphasis on leveraging Zimbabwe expertise in smallholder-focused agricultural value chains for mutual benefit.

Zimbabwean Agriculture ministry officials noted the pig sector’s role in economic growth and rural livelihoods, pointing to existing initiatives such as feed supply schemes, capacity-building programs for women and youth, and collective logistics platforms linking producers with urban markets in Harare and Bulawayo.

The delegation expressed optimism that the tour would pave the way for formal Memoranda of Understanding and technical partnerships aimed at integrating Zimbabwe’s pork value chain models into Nicaragua’s agricultural framework.

“Possible areas of cooperation range from genetics to exports. A bold step towards practical agri-partnerships,” the ministry said in a statement on X.