{"id":19536,"date":"2023-12-05T10:11:22","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T10:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.selinawamucii.com\/news\/?p=19536"},"modified":"2023-12-05T10:47:01","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T10:47:01","slug":"fact-sheet-after-zimbabwe-ranks-15th-in-global-blueberry-exports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.selinawamucii.com\/news\/2023\/12\/05\/fact-sheet-after-zimbabwe-ranks-15th-in-global-blueberry-exports\/","title":{"rendered":"Fact sheet after Zimbabwe ranks 15th\u00a0in global blueberry exports"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Zimbabwe\u2019s blueberry production doubled to 7000 tons in November 2023 in line  with the Horticulture Development Council (HDC)\u2019s forecast.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

HDC now predicts that horticultural production in the country will\u00a0treble<\/u><\/a>\u00a0in 5 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paving the way for that prediction, wheat production has already shot up to 468,000 metric tonnes. The tobacco harvest has garnered 300 million kilograms in 2023, part of which generated\u00a0$1 billion\u00a0<\/u><\/a>worth of exports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0It is blueberries, however, that have got the most attention. Their production rose from a mere 2000 metric tonnes in 2020 to the phenomenal 7000-tonne margins of 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a bouncing rate of 1200 tons per year, Zimbabwe\u2019s blueberry production has been growing by 63% annually, the fastest globally.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How old is Berry production in Zimbabwe?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

HDC says that berry production is a  a relatively new venture in the country.  The very first crop sprout to the east of Harare in as late as 2017, making it a six-year old venture today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raspberries and blueberries were the initial berries to grow here. Since then, the blueberry output has surpassed its cousin beyond expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Zimbabwe\u2019s blueberry season runs from August though October, which coincides with that of Limpopo\u2019s blueberry belt in South Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where do Berries Grow in Zimbabwe?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The epicentre of Zimbabwe\u2019<\/u><\/a>s blueberry production is Mashonaland, which includes East, Central and West  provinces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mashonaland East is home to the capital Harare and boasts a thriving commercial centre for blueberries due to its high population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another part of Northeast Zimbabwe\u2019s Mashonaland East province is Marondera, famous for its towering granite ridges. Here, blueberry production is under the sandy loam soils of the region. Locals have lent these soils the moniker \u2018tobacco soil\u2019 due to tinge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which are the Export markets?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zimbabwe\u2019s blueberry exports mainly ship to the UK, the European Union and the Far-East. The Middle-east is also an emerging lucrative market because of its proximity by air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2022 exports surged by 85% and helped give Zimbabwe the 15th<\/sup> slot in the global blueberry-exporting nations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blueberries production increased by 2300 tonnes in 2022, which in turn soared  to7000 tonnes<\/u><\/a> in 2023.  This improved the export figures even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huddles vs Health Benefits <\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite the impressive run, there are currency huddles but the balancing factor of the health benefits of blueberries is driving exports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 For one, the blueberry sector of Zimbabwe faces a currency crisis, threatening the silver lining on its blueberry exports. Reuters reported in November that the local currency loss over the dollar and top-level borrowing is crushing the sector.  On December 4, 2023, 1 Zimbabwean dollar was equal to 0.003106 U.S. dollars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the flip side is a growing global consciousness for eating healthy. With their immunity-boosting and health-protectiveness benefits, blueberries<\/u><\/a> are in high demand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, Zimbabwe can bask on continued exports of its boundary-pushing new fruit. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Zimbabwe\u2019s blueberry production doubled to 7000 tons in November 2023 in line  with the Horticulture Development Council (HDC)\u2019s forecast.   HDC now predicts that horticultural production in the country will\u00a0treble\u00a0in 5 years.\u00a0 Paving the way for that prediction, wheat production has already shot up to 468,000 metric tonnes. The tobacco harvest has garnered 300 million…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":19174,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nFact sheet after Zimbabwe ranks 15th\u00a0in global blueberry exports - Selina Wamucii | Food & Agriculture News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.selinawamucii.com\/news\/2023\/12\/05\/fact-sheet-after-zimbabwe-ranks-15th-in-global-blueberry-exports\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fact sheet after Zimbabwe ranks 15th\u00a0in global blueberry exports - Selina Wamucii | Food & Agriculture News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Zimbabwe\u2019s blueberry production doubled to 7000 tons in November 2023 in line  with the Horticulture Development Council (HDC)\u2019s forecast.   HDC now predicts that horticultural production in the country will\u00a0treble\u00a0in 5 years.\u00a0 Paving the way for that prediction, wheat production has already shot up to 468,000 metric tonnes. 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