Zimbabwe eyes blueberries as major export crop from Mashonaland East

Rows of blueberry bushes ready for harvest

HARARE — Blueberries are emerging as a promising export crop for Zimbabwe as plantings expand in Mashonaland East, positioning the province as the country’s leading blueberry-producing region, government and industry officials said.

Acting provincial director of agriculture Calisto Masiiwa told ZBC News that the province now has about 550 hectares under blueberries, with roughly 16 farmers recording strong yields. He said yields have risen from 13 to 22 tonnes per hectare, a sign of rapid improvement in production practices and plant material.

“We enter the market before major producers like Peru and Morocco,” Masiiwa said, adding that Zimbabwe’s climate supports cultivation of high‑quality blueberries and gives the country a favourable market window. He described the sector as profitable and urged investors to increase financing to scale production and processing.

Government targets and sector potential

The Zimbabwean government is backing horticulture growth under a sector recovery and growth plan that aims to expand horticulture into a US$2 billion industry by 2030, a flagship objective of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s economic strategy. Officials say blueberries could make a meaningful contribution to that target if production, post‑harvest handling, and export logistics are strengthened.

Masiiwa highlighted comparative advantages that include early‑season access to export markets and climatic conditions that favour premium fruit quality. He said more farmers are expanding plantings and invited new entrants to the sector.

Challenges and opportunities

Industry stakeholders note several areas that will determine whether blueberries can scale into a major export earner:

• Investment in irrigation and cold chain to preserve fruit quality from farm to port.

• Access to finance and technical support for small and medium producers to increase yields and meet export standards.

• Market linkages and certification to access premium European and Middle Eastern buyers.

• Skilled labour and agronomic training to sustain yield improvements and manage pests and diseases.

Private growers and provincial officials say early successes among a core group of farmers demonstrate the crop’s viability, but wider adoption will require coordinated public‑private action.

What to watch

• Expansion of hectares under production beyond the current 550 ha in Mashonaland East.

• Investment announcements from local and foreign agribusinesses or development partners.

• Progress on cold‑chain infrastructure and export certifications.

• Price performance and buyer interest in key export markets during Zimbabwe’s early season.

If the sector attracts sustained investment and addresses logistical bottlenecks, blueberries could become a notable foreign‑exchange earner and a growth engine for rural incomes in producing provinces.

Zimbabwe blueberries export 2026