Zimbabwe’s citrus industry continues its strong upward trajectory, buoyed by renewed investment and expanding production capacity. According to the latest data from ZimStats, citrus exports reached US$14.5 million between January and September 2025 – a 12 percent increase from the US$13 million recorded over the same period last year. Export volumes also grew by 10 percent, rising from 62 million kilograms to 68 million kilograms.
The growth reflects a surge of large-scale investments transforming the sector into a key pillar of Zimbabwe’s horticultural economy. Among notable developments are Toppick Investments’ 800-hectare citrus estate, Orange Ville’s US$30 million project targeting 3,000 hectares by 2030, and Schweppes Zimbabwe’s 2,700-hectare plantation under development in Beitbridge. Collectively, these ventures signal growing investor confidence and a strong alignment with national agricultural goals.
The Horticultural Development Council (HDC) has set an ambitious target to double the country’s citrus plantation area to 8,000 hectares by 2030, potentially generating 24,000 new jobs. This expansion forms part of the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy II (2026–2030), which envisions the citrus value chain increasing from US$576 million to US$925 million by the end of the decade.
Analysts note that the sector’s continued growth underscores Zimbabwe’s capacity to diversify agricultural exports and strengthen rural economies through value addition, infrastructure development, and sustainable farming practices. With the right policy support and continued private-sector investment, citrus could become one of the nation’s flagship export commodities in the years ahead.
