Some positive developments in Zimbabwe’s farming sector

It is heartening to see the growth of the blueberry industry in Zimbabwe. Their exports to Far East markets are growing, and we also see their excellent quality here in South Africa.

We hear that the Zimbabwean growers expect to export 12,000 tonnes of blueberries, 40 times more than in 2017. This week, The Economist magazine also covered developments in this industry there.

While Zimbabwe continues to face land governance challenges and low investment, in part stemming from historic land policy errors, we are always encouraged by the revitalisation of agriculture and want to see stronger regional agricultural production in Southern Africa. There are essential domestic reforms in Zimbabwe’s agriculture that are yet to happen, and the government there will have to work on them. These cover land policy and general agricultural reform.

But I think we must acknowledge the important steps the country has taken on trade policy, which has been beneficial to South Africa’s agriculture. Unlike many countries around South Africa, Zimbabwe has generally maintained open borders and doesn’t regularly place bans on South African produce. Even on maize, Zimbabwe doesn’t grow commercially genetically engineered maize, but maintains an open mind to it, and imports from South Africa.

We appreciate this policy step, and South Africa continues the same, maintaining open borders and importing some produce from Zimbabwe. Essentially, we should build stronger collaboration with agribusinesses in the Southern Africa region to unlock agricultural production.

We should nudge those that regularly close borders to review such a policy approach and embrace collaboration, ensuring that agribusinesses from South Africa and elsewhere are able to supply the necessary farm inputs and technology where opportunity arises to help in our agricultural progress as a region.

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