Zimbabweans have endured economic hardship over the past two decades, owing to a series of economic shocks and severe hyperinflation that have crippled livelihoods and income. Consequently, just under 10 million Zimbabweans live on less than $4.20 a day in an economy deeply susceptible to climate shocks due to its dependence on agriculture.

However, geopolitical relations and community-based projects have paved the way for a potential solution to help alleviate poverty—blueberries. Zimbabwe’s blueberry industry is becoming an increasingly prevalent market, helping to provide domestic relief and boost international trade as the country embarks on a long journey toward stability.

Zimbabwe Embracing Horticulture

Long reliant on tobacco exports, Zimbabwe is now looking to diversify its agricultural output, and blueberries have emerged as a promising and potentially lucrative product. Crucial to this development are ongoing talks with China, the world’s largest importer of the fruit, which could help Zimbabwe strengthen its position in the blueberry market currently led by Peru.

Gaining access to China’s lucrative market would help capitalize on Zimbabwe’s positive trajectory in horticulture, a trend that saw blueberry exports increase by 13% despite the presence of El Niño hindering economic growth. This growth is modest compared to future projections. Zimbabwe’s blueberry production is expected to rise by 50%, and this domestic expansion, combined with growing international markets, offers hope to local communities that this renewed interest in horticulture can improve food security and provide vital sources of employment.

Importance of Local Produce

While international trade deals will help boost macroeconomic stability in a nation facing stagnant growth and debt issues, job creation within the blueberry sector is equally significant. The industry creates approximately 6,000 jobs, most of them held by women who are increasingly becoming the main earners in their households. The sector also provides opportunities for young farmers, as more farm managers recruit trainees focused on blueberry production—creating employment in communities that disproportionately suffer from Zimbabwe’s high unemployment rate.

Zimbabwe’s poverty reduction strategy has been hindered by an overreliance on low-productivity agriculture, a sector further strained by climate events such as El Niño. The phenomenon caused a severe drought and left up to 7.6 million Zimbabweans at risk of acute hunger, yet the continued growth of blueberries during this crisis period highlights their potential to transform the country’s low-production agricultural cycle.

While the government lacks a funding framework that effectively supports people suffering from food insecurity, agri-entrepreneurs have stepped in to fill the gap. Admire Moyo developed the Goho learning app for young farmers, providing e-learning resources on climate resilience to help combat the effects of climate change. The app offers real-time updates on prices in central fruit and vegetable markets and helps farmers adapt to economic and climate shocks—factors that have indirectly fostered growth in blueberry production.

Looking Forward

The target for Zimbabwean farmers is to reach 30,000 tons of blueberry production by 2030, aiming to capitalize on the lucrative Chinese market. While the current trajectory is promising, insufficient funding structures risk undermining the progress of Zimbabwean farms working to alleviate local poverty through improved food security and employment opportunities.

– Oscar McClintock

Oscar is based in Cambridge, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr