ZimTrade seeks to drive rural exports
NATIONAL trade development and promotion body, ZimTrade, is working on enhancing
the production of export-oriented crops in rural communities as it moves to decentralise
and diversify sources of export in the country.
Commercial farming entities have traditionally been the exclusive exporters of farm
produce but there is realisation that smaller communities can venture into the export
business through support from the national trade development and promotion
organisation.
In that regard, ZimTrade is pushing for the establishment of clusters within producing
areas to ensure the upliftment of rural communities.
Clusters will also enable smallholder farmers to meet export required volumes,
standardise operations and eliminate middlemen that normally shortchange the
smallholder farmers by buying produce at gross discounted and unviable prices.
This is also in line with the devolution agenda under the National Development Strategy
(NDS1), which seeks to empower provinces and districts to become national hubs for the
production and export of unique products.
As such, ZimTrade with the assistance of Strengthening Competitiveness and Potential
for Export for Inclusive Value Chains (SCOPE4IVC) an organisation that seeks to drive the
growth of export oriented small enterprises, has managed to establish and enhance
bambara nuts and chilli-producing clusters in Chivi district of Masvingo and some areas
in Gokwe South.
Twenty farmers under the Zarukai group from Chivi South and Gokwe South have set the
ball rolling on the initiative with the production of the two crops steadily growing
supported by lucrative prices of the crops on the export market. As established at this
year’s fruit logistica trade fair in Germany, bambara nuts (nyimo/indlubu) have a
considerable global market judging by strong enquiries at the platform.
The crop has the potential to grow in areas that receive below-normal rains and is
considered a good source of protein, consumed alternatively for breakfast or lunch.
According to the Trade map, global import bill of the product was just US$1, 7 million in
2020 and there is great potential to capitalise on the opportunity to supply the global
market.
“Currently the Government has been pursuing the devolution agenda, as ZimTrade, we
saw it fit to nurture and grow exports from the district level and we have moved to
establish export clusters for a number of crops.
“We have been concentrating on towns, we now want to venture into rural communities
and see what can be done so that they contribute to the country’s exports,” said Mr Danai
Majaha, ZimTrade communications manager during a tour of the projects in Chivi.
This is not the first time ZimTrade has pushed for clusters as the programme had already
commenced in Chimanimani where trusts have been established for marketing their
bananas and pineapple produce.
“With clusters standardisation becomes easy, they also help in product pricing since it is
easy to have a better voice on pricing compared to an individual, this way farmers cannot
be shortchanged on pricing,” he said.
According to the Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis and Research Unit (ZEPARU)
devolution of export sources is critical for value addition and beneficiation, which all
make the country realize more earnings from its exports.
Each province in Zimbabwe is uniquely endowed with resources that can support the
development of export products with the potential to compete well in the export market.
Chairperson of the Bambara Nuts Association of Zimbabwe (BNAZ) and Zarukai (Chivi
Ward 25) group leader Tandiwe Chitanga, said the cluster arrangement had started
empowering their livelihoods in the area, with some players now able to school fees and
establishingseparate business ventures.
She said their cluster has membership in Chivi South and Gokwe South with a current
membership of 20 with only four men.
“We used to grow the crop for subsistence, not for business, but we have since adopted
organic Bambara nuts production as a business, and clusters have helped us in enhancing
our volumes for exports.
“Last year I cultivated about 1, 7 hectares of the crop and this year I have already planted
over two hectares this current season given the high returns accruing from the crop,”
said Mrs Chitanga.
She, however, pleaded with ZimTrade to continue assisting in looking for markets across
the globe.
The other thriving project in the Chivi District was the chilli project where local families
converged to start chillies production through the assistance of local supporting
organisations.
Kushinga Chilli group chairperson Chipo Mbira, said the venture was beginning to show a
glimmer of hope to their livelihoods and was looking forward to doing more, especially if
given assistance to irrigate a better size of land from the current one.
“We started doing chilli production in 2021, after approaching SCOPE4IVC with
intentions to improve our self-sustenance and grow earnings for our families.
“This is a welcome initiative as this empowers us to change individual livelihoods, we
have seen potential in the crop and we intend to grow the size of our acreage, going
forward,” said Ms Mbira.
The growing global demand for spices, coupled with dwindling supply from traditional
source markets, presents a good opportunity for local producers to increase production
and exports of chilli pepper into the global market.
China is one of the world’s largest importers of dried pepper, with a total value of
US$508 million in 2021. The major supplier to that market is India with exports worth
US$440 million (Trade Map). Chili pepper consumption has increased in China due to the
rapid increase of hot pot meals.-The Herald
