AMSTERDAM: Zimbabwe’s trade development and promotion organisation, the Netherlands presents a growing market for organic fruits, particularly dates, figs, mangoes, pineapples, avocados and guavas. The import bill for mangoes, mangosteens and guavas in the Netherlands has been on an upward trend, increasing by 38 percent from $197 million in 2011 to $272 million in 2015. As the Netherlands does not produce these fruits, it is one of the largest importers globally. In 2015, amongst the European Union (EU) 28 member countries, the Netherlands accounted for 25 percent of the total import bill ($929 million) for mangoes, mangosteens and guavas.
It was followed by Germany and the United Kingdom, both at 18 percent. The Netherlands imports the bulk of its mangoes between November and May, which coincides with Zimbabwe’s mango harvesting season (December to mid-April). The interim Economic Partnership Agreement offers opportunities for Zimbabwe to export its fresh produce to the EU bloc duty free and quota free. Zimbabwean companies in the food and agro-processing sector now have access to a new Chromatography Trace Elements Testing Laboratory.
It can assist mango producers/exporters in testing their products for safety and quality in order to ensure that they meet international standards for export. Commercial production of mangoes in Zimbabwe has been minimal.
According to a study done by Farming Solutions for Windmill (2014), there is untapped potential for good quality mango farming in Zimbabwe. The study indicates that a range of improved mango cultivars with exceptional skin colour and excellent internal quality as well as flavour, which were bred in Florida, have been cropping well on a research station in Chiredzi.
