ZIMBABWE’s exports grew by 5,6 percent to US$15 million in the 10 months to October, as the country continues to record new investments and progress towards the national target of US$84 million in exports by 2030.
Statistics from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) show that citrus product exports rose from US$14,2 million between January and October 2024 to US$14,7 million in the comparable period last year.
In volumes, exports rose nine percent from 62,8 kilogrammes in 2024 to 68,6 million kg in the same period last year.
Zimbabwe’s citrus products basket comprises fresh or dried oranges, mandarins, clementines, grapefruit, including pomelos, lemons and limes, frozen and unfrozen orange juice, unfermented grapefruit juices and other single fruit juices.
The country’s citrus exports have grown 264 percent from US$4 million in 2010 to US$15 million last year. The area under citrus fruits continues to grow annually.
For instance, Beitbridge District Agritex officer, Mr Masauso Mawocha, said nearly 4 100 hectares were under citrus trees in the district.
“We are seeing a lot of farmers taking up citrus production at Khwalu, Shashe and Ndambe Phase 2, among others. “On the commercial side, we have Nottingham Estate, Bishopstone, Cawood, Luhwade, Shambayethu, Benfer Estate and of late, we have new projects coming up, which include Orange Ville Pvt Ltd and Toppick Investments, who have all made a good start,” he said.
Nottingham Estate will increase its citrus area from 950 to 1 500 hectares.
Toppick Investments, a local company, has invested in a massive citrus project with the first harvest from some of the 230 000 orange trees expected this year.
“So far, we have about 230 000 planted trees on 800 hectares and we are expecting to plant 115 000 more and propagating material has already been purchased from South Africa,” said Toppick Investment’s chief executive, Mr Danisa Moyo.
Orange Ville representative, Mr Brandon Park, said they had invested US$30 million in their new project.
“We have assembled a processing plant and put 700 hectares under citrus and our target is to have at least 3 000 hectares by 2030.
“At the moment, we have put a processing plant of up to 90 000 tonnes of oranges per season and we hope to increase this to 200 000 tonnes by the year 2030,” he said.
Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited is finalising engagements with the Government to set up a 2 700ha citrus plantation in the Zhovhe area of Beitbridge District.
The Horticultural Development Council (HDC) is targeting to double the area under citrus from 4 000ha to 8 000ha by 2030, if operators secure the required investment of US$48 million, which would create 24 000 new jobs.
The country’s new agriculture roadmap, the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2: 2026-30 (AFSRTS 2), says Zimbabwe’s citrus industry is a critical agricultural sub-sector, serving as a significant source of foreign exchange, employment and rural development.
“Primarily focused on exports, the industry is renowned for its high-quality oranges (Navel and Valencia), soft citrus (mandarins, clementines), lemons and grapefruit.
“The citrus value chain is projected to increase from 347 000 tonnes in the 2025/2026 season to 482 000 tonnes by 2030/2031, with its gross value increasing from US$576 million to US$925 million by 2030,” the AFSRTS 2 document says.
