ZIMBABWE is working on modalities to export more agricultural produce to Rwanda following deliberations at the recently held Rwanda-Zimbabwe Business Forum, NewsDay Farming can report.
According to Agricultural Marketing Authority (Ama) chief executive officer Clever Isaya, several buyers expressed interest in the country’s local agricultural produce.
“Several local players in the agriculture sector mounted a good exhibition in Rwanda and this has generated a lot of interest,” he said in the organisation’s latest newsletter.
“The Rwanda buyers were particularly impressed with a wide range of agricultural products which include macadamia nuts, peas, blueberries and many others.”
The Ama chief said many buyers had an opportunity to sample and evaluate the Zimbabwean products and were impressed with the quality and competitiveness of the local offerings.
He said what is left was for local horticulture players to iron out modalities to make sure their products reach Kigali in good quality.
The forum, organised by local trade promotion body, ZimTrade and Rwanda Development Board, brought over 230 business leaders from the two countries to explore business opportunities.
The forum aimed at bridging the gap and showcases the potential of Zimbabwean products in the Rwandan markets.
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This year's edition was running under the theme Shared Prosperity: Harnessing the Potential of Zimbabwean and Rwandan Economies.
The high-level forum, now in its fourth year since 2021, highlights the ongoing efforts to enhance trade cooperation and collaboration between the two countries.
The Zimbabwean delegation, led by Foreign Affairs and International Trade deputy minister Sheila Chikomo, included representatives from various government ministries, departments and agencies.
Zimbabwe earns US$120 million annually from exports of horticultural products including citrus, flowers, tea, avocados, blueberries and macadamia nuts.
The sector is struggling with an inconsistent policy and regulatory environment, high borrowing costs, logistics challenges and persistent concerns over land tenure.
Despite these challenges, the sector is recovering.
Increased investment, particularly in products like blueberries and macadamia nuts, has helped traditional crops such as citrus, tea, and flowers drive the rebound
By 2030, Zimbabwe aims to see a resurgence of up to 10 000 hectares of citrus plantations that were previously lost.
The Zimbabwean Horticultural Development Council now targets US$1 billion in horticultural exports by 2030 and achieving this ambitious goal will require substantial investment and an enabling environment.
The European Union is a major market for Zimbabwe's horticultural exports. It is also providing technical support and funding to the sector through the European Investment Bank.
