Zimbabwe Developing New Citrus Cultivation Areas

As reported by Zimbabwean media, new citrus plantations are being set up along the Mupfure River in the district of Chegutu in central northern Zimbabwe to produce greater quantities of fruit for export, including a quota of 50,000 metric tons destined for China.

Christopher Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to China, recently made a statement in Chegutu, in which he confirmed that a mutual agreement had been reached with Chinese contacts to fulfill an annual quota of 50,000 metric tons.

While other regions, such as Beitbridge, are also heavily involved in citrus cultivation, it is hoped that the new plantations in Chegutu will complement these efforts and enable the Zimbabwean citrus industry to better meet market demand.

Zimbabwe reportedly ranks 53rd in the world in terms of citrus production, behind countries such as Mexico, Brazil, India and the Philippines. In recent years, however, the country’s citrus output has shown steady growth, and it is projected to reach an estimated volume of 150,000 metric tons by 2026.

Zimbabwean citrus fruits, including sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis), mandarins (Citrus reticulata), grapefruits (Citrus paradisi), lemons (Citrus limon), limes (Citrus aurantifolia) and bitter oranges (Citrus aurantium), secured access to the Chinese market on July 1, 2022.

Considering Zimbabwe’s landlocked nature, on May 30, 2023, China’s General Administration of Customs announced the conditions for Zimbabwean citrus shipments through third countries, which allow the mandatory cold treatment to be conducted during transit.

In June of this year, Zimbabwe’s domestic media reported that the country was making preparations for its first-ever shipment of fresh citrus to China. Moreover, negotiations with China regarding market access for Zimbabwean blueberries, avocados and peppers are currently underway.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.