THE Hauna banana processing plant, the first of its kind in Manicaland province to transform the horticultural landscape in the region, is scheduled to start full operations in November this year.
Despite Honde Valley’s reputation of producing high-quality bananas, farmers in the area have faced significant setbacks that include lack of markets.
The local banana farmers also suffered losses due to the perishable nature of bananas and the fruit being undervalued on delivery to the markets.
The plant, which has been established with support from the Women Affairs, Community and Small to Medium Enterprises ministry, is set to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by reducing spoilage. It will preserve bananas and other fruits in various forms such as frozen, canned or dried, making them available year-round.
Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Misheck Mugadza said the plant would also minimise food waste by utilising fruits that were damaged or not sold in their fresh state.
“By establishing this processing plant, we are not only providing a sustainable and transformative solution for our local farmers, but also promoting value-addition, enhancing food security and driving economic growth in the region,” Mugadza said.
“The initiative is poised to directly benefit 600 farmers and provide sustainable support to over 2 000 others from Mutasa, Nyanga and other adjacent districts.”
Mutasa North legislator Obey Bvute (Zanu PF) commended efforts to promote value-addition by establishing the plant.
- Hauna banana processing plant to start operations
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“This business will not only serve the interests of farmers from Mutasa, but the whole nation. It is a step towards achieving food security and economic empowerment,” he noted.
Local farmers have welcomed the development, expressing optimism about its potential to address their long standing challenges. Mercy Chohwa, a banana farmer from Mutasa, explained the benefits.
“It will address market and transport challenges because the farmers have been paying exorbitant transport fares to get to markets in Mutare, Harare or Bulawayo,” she said.
“At the end of the day, our profits were being eroded through exorbitant transport and other costs incurred as we take our produce to the markets in the different cities.”
The US$450 000 banana processing plant is a broader initiative to promote agricultural value addition in the region.
This follows the successful establishment of an avocado oil plant in Mutare and the upcoming launch of a macadamia processing plant in Chipinge.
