The banana value chain has emerged as a key pillar in Zimbabwe’s ambitions to grow the horticulture sector into a US$2 billion industry, with government pointing to export-oriented farms as proof of the sector’s export potential.
Agriculture Permanent Secretary Prof. Dr. Obert Jiri this week toured Matanuska Estate in Burma Valley, a major banana producer operating on 321 hectares and employing about 450 workers, as part of ongoing engagements with horticulture actors.
At the estate, officials highlighted that 60 percent of bananas are exported to South Africa, with the remaining 40 percent sold on the domestic market — a balance officials say strengthens both foreign currency earnings and local supplies.
Related Stories
Jiri said the performance of large commercial estates demonstrated how focused investment and export market access could boost the wider horticulture value chain.
National export data shows that Zimbabwe’s horticulture industry has been recovering from earlier declines and is generating increasing foreign exchange. According to ZimTrade TradeMap data, overall horticultural exports increased to about US$59.8 million in 2024, up from US$53.2 million in 2023 — a 12.4 percent rise that highlights emerging momentum in the sector’s earnings.
The horticulture sector has also seen dramatic growth in high-value sub-segments. Berry export earnings — driven primarily by blueberries — soared from around US$11 million in 2020 to more than US$50 million in 2024, a 351 percent increase over four years, according to national trade figures.
Fruit exports more broadly — including a range of tree and vine crops — recorded a notable jump from about US$2.4 million in 2022 to over US$4.2 million in 2023, a 77 percent increase, data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency shows.
Government officials say these historic growth trends underscore the viability of horticulture as an export-led growth engine. The banana value chain, with its established access to regional markets like South Africa, is expected to contribute significantly to broader goals.
Leave Comments