Horticulture sector poised for export boom
THE horticulture sector has the potential to become a US$2,4 billion annual export industry if investments worth approximately US$800 million are made.
The export potential, unveiled through the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency’s (ZIDA) first quarter 2025 report, comes with a projected 586 650 jobs set to be created across the value chain.
These projections follow a high-level seminar hosted by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the Horticultural Development Council (HDC) aimed at unlocking investment and streamlining operations in the sector.
Held in March 2025, the seminar brought together Government officials, private sector players and potential investors to discuss opportunities within Zimbabwe’s horticulture industry.
The focus was on agro-industrial transformation, rural employment and boosting non-traditional exports in line with Vision 2030.
According to data presented by the HDC, the sector has the capacity to expand from 90 000 hectares under horticulture to over 132 000 hectares. Key crops that could drive this growth include bananas, blueberries, avocados, citrus, fresh produce, and macadamia nuts.
Fresh produce alone is expected to contribute US$1,38 billion in export revenue annually, supporting over 378 000 jobs.
The sector’s full investment needs are pegged at US$795 million, with HDC actively engaging investors both locally and abroad. The HDC has since launched an outreach campaign to promote the sector’s opportunities, targeting regional partners and global buyers.
-herald
