The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Business Correspondent
LEADING corporate in the banana and horticulture production sector, Matanuska is expected to rake in US$600 million in exports in the next 10 years through the creation of greenbelts across the country.
The horticulture giant has identified undeveloped agricultural lands in Nyanga, Burma Valley, Bindura and Chipinge and wants to grow avocadoes, bananas and apples among other crops for exports.
Speaking during a tour of Matanuska farms in Burma Valley on Tuesday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr John Basera said the move was in pursuance and consistency of the country’s agricultural recovery plan.
He said the creation of the greenbelts would see Matanuska investing US$76 million in the next 10 years, a move that would rake in about US$60 million per year.
Dr Basera said the greenbelt plan would help the country in recovering its past glory days when it used to bring in at least US$140 million a year in horticulture products exports.
“Under the Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan, this is what we are envisaging. The recovery plan seeks to create horticulture crops greenbelts especially in low lying areas, valleys and other areas,” said Dr Basera.
He said Government was also looking at areas like Tugwi-Mukosi in Masvingo and Kanyemba in Mashonaland Central to create greenbelts to ensure imports substitution.
“What we need to do for us to be able to green tick the agricultural revolution is to sweat the resources we have. To sweat the land, to plough the land, and to be productive.
“Ultimately, we need to attain the mighty three Ps, which are production, productivity and profitability. We should also add another which is partnerships for us to achieve these.
“More importantly, we have to attain Vision 2030 objectives, so we are looking at creating jobs, incomes for the people, the farmers and all these are achieved through the Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan, Agriculture and Food systems transformation and strategy in motion, but more importantly the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1in motion,” he said.
Matanuska’s commercial manager, Mr Richard Chiwandire said their target as part of the Horticultural Recovery and Growth Plan, they were planning to expand from the current 400 hectares to 1 109 hectares.
He said through joint venture arrangements, they secured expansion land during the past two years from new farmers, but they were still short of around 500ha to reach its target.
“Government introduced us to the greenbelts concepts after we had lost hope of expansion, and that is when we entered into joint ventures with new farmers surrounding us.
“We are still engaging Government on how best we can scale up and maximise profits that also benefit the country,” said Mr Chiwandire.
He also said the company was currently bringing in between US$1 million and US$2 million in exports, and that once they reach their capacity, the foreign currency would multiply likewise.
“Once we reach our capacity of 1109ha, we are looking at multiplying. Currently, we produce 1 200 tonnes of bananas per year, and 60-80 percent of that is exported. There is a huge demand of our bananas in South Africa.
“We are now supplying high-end retail outlets in South Africa,” said Mr Chiwandire.
He said Matanuska was only exporting one truckload per week, while there was a demand of about 25 truckloads per week.
“That just shows how much potential we have to scale up and contribute to the nation’s foreign currency generation capacity,” he said.
