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Post
September 2020
Trading
@ZimTradeAlerts info@zimtrade.co.zw www.tradezimbabwe.com
ZimTrade’s Eastern Region Office will
develop and increase exports
ZimTrade – the national trade the Bulawayo, Matabeleland and
development and promotion organisation Midlands Provinces.
– will open new offices in Mutare in the Once opened, the Mutare office will
next few weeks, earmarked for improving become ZimTrade’s third office in the Contents
the development and promotion of country.
exports from Zimbabwe’s eastern region. Before the opening of this office, 6
Established along the country’s businesses from Manicaland and
Kagondo, Ntini,
devolution agenda as well as ZimTrade’s Masvingo provinces were receiving
Kamungeremu elected to
Programme to develop export clusters, assistance through the Head Office.
ZimTrade Board
the new offices to be opened in Mutare This arrangement, as in most cases
will also strengthening its footprints, around the world, would mean some 9
particularly on close engagements with delays for those businesses that About Taguta Irrigation
current and potential exporters from the urgently required assistance which Scheme
region. can be rendered through physical
11
ZimTrade trade facilitation activities interactions.
in the Eastern Region will service the Thus, the new offices in Eastern Region Time to explore markets for
Manicaland and Masvingo provinces will ensure that industry and farmers sweet potatoes
targeting both established exporters associations, government agencies
and potential exporters that can be and existing as well as potential
harnessed into future exporters. exporters resident in the two provinces
Currently ZimTrade has two offices, the can conveniently access real time
Head Office in Harare and the Southern information on trade related initiatives.
Region office in Bulawayo that service To ensure speed growth of exports
Continued on page 2
1
Trading Post
from Manicaland and Masvingo signed by the country. The horticulture sector poses
Provinces in a participatory manner, However, because of information quick wins to the nation. ZimTrade
the Eastern Region Office will gaps, some companies fail to access is looking to boost agro-based
develop export clusters along areas preferential treatment that are exports as well as value-added
of competitive and comparative outlined in these agreements, which products and services including
advantages. affects their price competitiveness fruits and vegitables.
These clusters will accommodate in export markets. The Eastern region is ideally
out-growers so that they can help Armed with current and reliable positioned to meet growing
increase production of the various information, businesses in international demand of fruits and
commodities. Manicaland and Masvingo vegetables as well as increasing the
Established companies like provinces are expected to trade footprints of Zimbabwean products
Tanganda, Ariston, Zimbabwe under trade agreements, including in the international arena.
Coffee Meal and Tongaat Huillet SADC and COMESA that will The office will also help increase
have thriving out grower schemes improve their competitiveness. Zimbabwe’s exports, not only
that has boosted their exports as The opening of the offices come as a from Masvingo and Manicaland
well as those of the respective responsive reaction towards robust provinces, to regional markets such
provinces. trade activities in the Masvingo and as Mozambican and Malawi.
Most of the interventions offered Manicaland provinces. Leveraging on the proximity to
by ZimTrade are informed by The two provinces have untapped Mozambique, the regional office
requirements from exporters and potential and with the right guidance, will act as the bridge between
potential exporters. exports from these provinces can be Zimbabwean companies and the
This office will increase clientele ignited to increase export earnings Mozambican market.
interface and hence inform regional in line with devolution agenda. Situated strategically in Mutare, the
and national programming to To strengthen companies in the route to Beira, the office will help
resemble the needs of the exporting region, regain their competitive increase trade relations between
business community. edge in the international market, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The physical presence of ZimTrade will offer various capacity To illustrate the potential in the two
ZimTrade in the Eastern region will development activities. provinces covered by the planned
assist ZimTrade to have a broad The office will assist companies to regional office, at least US$200
overview of the exporters in the access factory floor interventions million worth of key niche products
region, mapping and reaching and expertise through senior are exported from the Masvingo
out to potential exporters in trade services from Netherlands-based and Manicaland provinces. These
development programming. PUM and SES of Germany. products are only peculiar to these
The overall goal will be to amplify Some companies in Harare and two provinces and or are only being
the impact of ZimTrade’s activities to Bulawayo that have received exported from these.
assist exporters in that region to get such expert services managed to This value shows the potential of the
broader services from ZimTrade reduce the cost of production and region and this can be surpassed.
Information gathered on export improved the quality and appeal of
status, trends, challenges, the products abroad.
opportunities and impediments
affecting the value chain will go a
long way in informing ZimTrade’s
trade development and promotional
programming.
The office will also improve
access by local businesses to
trade protocols whether bilateral or
multilateral trade agreements.
To boost trade in the region, there is
need for more companies to register
and make use of trade agreements
Disclaimer:
” Disclaimer: ZimTrade strives to compile reliable, research-based information that is passed on to our readers in good faith.
However, ZimTrade does notaccept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information supplied, nor does it guarantee the status
or reliability of any third party included in the Newsletter.Similarly opinions expressed by third parties in abstracts and/or interviews
are not necessarily shared by ZimTrade. For more information about ZimTrade and its activities log on to www.tradezimbabwe.com”
2
September 2020
Manicaland Province export markets.
For example, by value adding
the bananas into powder and
chips the region can improve its
contribution to the fiscus.
Timber grows well in the
eastern highlands and the exotic
plantations constitute the greatest
proportion of timber exports by
the country.
These are exported as poles
used for electrification as well as
fencing and construction timber.
Timber accounts for more than
US$15 million and the main
export destinations are Botswana
Zambia, South Africa, Malawi and
Mozambique.
Mutare’s proximity (about 300km by giving one another preferential The Manicaland region also
by road) to Beira provides treatment in the reduction or has potential to surpass US$50
opportunities for increasing elimination of custom duties. million worth of tea and coffee
Zimbabwe’s exports. Macadamia predominantly being exports.
Products which are exported by exported from Chipinge, Honde Currently the coffee and
the region includes flowers, citrus, and Nyanga districts is exported tea exports are valued at
mangoes, cotton, pineapples, to China, South Africa, Thailand, approximately US$31 million and
sweet potatoes, honey and sugar Malawi and Hong Kong. US$7 million, respectively.
beans. Macadamia accounts for about Key export destination of tea from
This dynamic region produces US$21 million worth of exports the country includes South Africa,
fresh vegetables which are also which can all be attributed to the United States of America, United
exported to various international Eastern region alone. Kingdom, Russia and Germany.
destination as well as can produce The four main companies in the Zimbabwean coffee has been
herbs, baobab products and avocadoes export are all resident exported to United States of
capsicum products like paprika in the eastern region. America, Germany, France, Italy
and chillies. The Manicaland provinces also and Japan.
In 2019, according to Trade exports US$1.1 million worth of The Tamuka MuZimbabwe
Map, Zimbabwe’s exports to bananas to South Africa mainly brand is a prime coffee brand that
Mozambique amounted to from Chiredzi and Chipinge. is sold in Sweden by Nepresso.
US$354,3 million against imports The table bananas exported This coffee is predomintly
of US$90 million. by Zimbabwe are tastier than produced by smallholder farmers
The exports consisted of US$94 those from our competitors in the whose quality has attracted the
million worth of processed foods, regional markets. established coffee blender.
building and construction for Some of the Banana are also The Eastern Region Office will
US$48,5 million, and agricultural exported to Zambia. take advantage of popular tea
inputs and implements worth The regional office will also work brands like Tanganda, Quickbrew
US$23,6 million. with farmers in value adding their and Three Leaves to increase
Zimbabwe exports of value- products so that they earn more in exports from Manicaland.
added goods to Mozambique
were dominated by sugar and
sugar confectionery, tea and
coffee, paper and packaging as
well as timber.
Considering the good political
relations between Mozambique
and Zimbabwe, the ZimTrade
Eastern Region Office will help
foster trade relations between
the two nations and help
improve Zimbabwe’s exports to
Mozambique and beyond.
Both Zimbabwe and Mozambique
are signatories to the Southern
Africa Development Community
(SADC) Trade Protocol, which
stimulates and encourages trade
3
Trading Post Masvingo Province About US$90 million worth of sugar is exported by Zimbabwe mainly coming from Masvingo region. The main destination markets include Kenya, Botswana, United States of America, Spain and South Africa. Masvingo province has the largest livestock population in Zimbabwe and can be help reignite the meat exports by the country. The province can help ignite the meat value chain and meat exports can be exported to Europe where Zimbabwe meat products were well sought after. plantations in Mwenezi, Chiredzi The Eastern region poses The Lucerne project in Chiredzi and Triangle effectively boosting immense potential to increase will help draw synergies with productivity in this region. the export from the country as it the large herd of cattle that the The hot weather conditions in also poses downstream effects province has. most of the province is an aid to on the processed foods sector The large cattle herd, coupled production of high ester content that derives its inputs from the with the lucrative exotic skins from in Capsicums. Manicaland province. crocodiles, makes Masvingo a Masvingo provinces also Investment of standards like focal point for Hides and Skins. produces Garlic and Ginger, that Global Gap, Rainforest Alliance, Masvingo province also has are key to maintaining healthy Fair Trade, Organic Certification potential for the production of life. Farmers in and around Gutu and SYMETA will increase citrus in the lowveld. have been producing the crops compliance levels of farmers By making use of the huge which if they consolidate the making produce from these water bodies especially Tokwe commodity can be exported to provinces well sort after in the Mukosi, the province can irrigate regional markets. international arena. 4
5
Trading Post
Newly elected Board Member, Mike Kamungeremu
Kagondo, Ntini, Kamungeremu elected to
ZimTrade Board
Three private sector In line with Article 5 of the hold office for a tenure of three
representatives were elected to ZimTrade’s Constitution, the years.”
the ZimTrade Board of Directors Board of Directors consist of If up for eligible after the first term,
on 25 September for the period nine members, four of whom Directors can be elected for one
2020-2023 during the first ever are elected by members at the additional and final term.
virtual Annual General Meeting. ZimTrade Annual General Meeting The two new Board Members
The new members, Mike while the other five, including the replace Mike Juru and Peggy
Kamungeremu, Benison Ntini Chairperson are appointed by the Rambanapasi who had served for
were elected for the first team Minister. four years in line with the previous
while Brian Kagondo was In terms of tenure, Article 9 of the Constitution, which had set two
elected for the second and final ZimTrade’s Constitution states that years of service.
term. “all directors of the Board shall
Newly elected Board Members, Benison Ntini (Left) and Brian Kagondo (Right)
6
September 2020
Farmers in Matabeleland and Midlands encouraged to
venture into exports
As the coronavirus has created a new Bulawayo based Clarence Mwale, an and provide up to 70 percent of the total
norm where virtual engagements are expert and consultant in GlobalGAP agricultural production in the country.
equally important, ZimTrade recently certification educated participants on Primary challenges include lack of
hosted an online horticulture export those specific issues. quality seeds or planting materials, lack
awareness seminar for the Southern The seminar also had an opportunity of or little use of production technology,
Region. to host Maina Karuiru an expert in Agri- poor pre- and post-harvest handling
The purpose of this seminar was to Business Management from Kenya who technology, aggravated by inadequate
share the knowledge on GlobalGAP is also a farmer and has been exporting cold storage facilities, inadequate access
certification process and the successfully for fifteen years. to financing to increase production,
costs involved, understanding the Karuiru shared Kenya’s experiences challenges with crop rotation due to
mandatory requirements for exporting in agriculture, which is the backbone small size of land and the use irrigation
horticulture produce and to learn of country’s economy and the source systems is very low.
from other farmers already exporting of livelihood for majority of the rural Their exports are therefore affected
horticulture produce. population. by high labour and input costs, high
GlobalGAP is a trademark and a set In Kenya, the agriculture sector compliance costs to technical or market
of standards for Good Agricultural contributes about 26 percent of the access standards, overuse of land
Practices (G.A.P). country’s GDP and employs about 75 in growing areas leading to reduced
It is a global organization with a crucial percent of the population. yields, disease and pest pressure, high
objective, that is safe, sustainable The horticulture sub sector employs freight costs, multiple taxations from
agriculture worldwide which sets approximately 4.5 million people the government and the youth lacking
voluntary standards for the certification countrywide directly in production, interest in agribusiness activities.
of agricultural products around the processing, and marketing, while another However, representatives from reputable
globe. 3.5 million people benefit indirectly farms, Talana farm from Chegutu and
Producers, suppliers, and buyers through trade and other activities. Lingfield farm from Gweru participated
are encouraged to harmonize their Horticulture is currently the fastest and gave comprehensive testimonies
certification standards to match growing agricultural subsector in Kenya of their success story from supplying
GlobalGAP purpose. and ranked third after tourism and tea, in the local market to certification and
During the seminar, key elements foreign exchange earnings. becoming top exporters.
were addresses that would have One key observation was some of Talana farm even expressed that there
formed a bigger part of the frequently Kenya’s challenges highlighted seem to is a high untapped potential in exports
asked questions on the platform. be in line with some of the challenges that sometimes they even fail to meet
These elements included GlobalGAP encountered by their Zimbabwean demand thereby encouraging many
checklist, cost of certification, counterparts. farmers to venture into exports.
certification time frame, audit The small-scale farmers in Kenya
checklist, how to find a consultant and supply 75 percent of the total market
advantages of the certification.
7
Trading Post From Rural Tongogara to the capitals of Europe: How local small- scale farmers are gearing up for the global market The synergies between the private sector and small holder farmers with accelerate growth of exports by facilitating out grower schemes. This was the main message delivered by ZimTrade during a recent visit to the Taguta irrigation scheme near Tongogara in Shurugwi where an Anglo- America operated Unki Mine has successfully partnered TechnoServe in developing and empowering communities through a community based out grower scheme for peas. into the area. achieve less than 85 percent The small-scale farmers are The first project under the scheme pack-out ratio. growing the peas exclusively was this year’s mange tout peas The farmers have also for the EU market and through grown on 8.5 hectares of land. implemented a strict schedule their commercial partner have Due to paying attention to detail that allows them to utilize a managed to export peas to and good agricultural practices, packhouse 80km away in Gweru Europe. the farmers have surpassed without compromising the quality The project, which started by quality expectations and of the product. resuscitating irrigation schemes achieved an average pack out Following successes recorded that had been inactive for the ratio of 90 percent during sorting under the current project, plans past 14 years with no cultivation and grading. are to increase production areas and irrigation happening is meant Most commercial operations to 40 hectares in the next season. to bring sustainable development 8
September 2020
The farmers are also working
with one of the Best Model Farms
that ZimTrade is developing in
Midlands to create easy access to
markets by smallholder farmers.
Further plans are in place to
educate these farmers on export
awareness and financial skills,
so that they are able to utilize
the profits they gain from their
earnings and further develop the
irrigation scheme.
Additionally, the small holder
farmers are set to benefit from
other ZimTrade services that
About Taguta Irrigation Scheme include expert trainings, market
Taguta, a fully established irrigation ZimTrade and other stake holders. information and much more.
plant has a total arable land of Before the interventions of Unki, the If a coordinated approach is
10 hectares directly benefits 32 irrigation plant had been dormant for achieved, out grower schemes
families. years due to the lack of resources could contribute significantly to
These families provide the labour and accessibility challenges. exports and there is an advantage
and were trained by TechnoServe Through a partnership with of empowered community
to develop various specializations TechnoServe in October 2018, Unki members as well, however this is
that are necessary for the success united a group of small holder only possible if they receive the
of the project. farmers in surrounding communities support they need.
The irigation scheme has 32 to start operations at the farm. By availing input resources or
community members benefiting Through the help of ZimTrade, financial support, outgrower
from export earnings of peas, representatives of the project were schemes are empowered and
which was recently harvested from facilitated to participate at Fruit equipped to grow their production
the irrigation plant and exported Logistica Berlin in February 2020 as value and improve value chain
to Europe through the help of a way of creating market linkages. systems
Continued on page 12
9
Trading Post
Magical Marula Fruit: A low cost and high value export product
The marula tree, along with the In Europe, Marula oil is becoming more products based on oil produced from
delicious marula fruit it bears, has a popular in the cosmetic industry. the Marula kernels.
long history with Africa, one that dates Marula oil is sold in local, regional, Through support from the government’s
as far back as 10,000 BC. and international markets as crude Natural Futures Programme grant, SIP
In Zimbabwe, the tree grows naturally and refined oil. has gained organic certification for its
widely but is very common in the This is expected to stimulate the Marula oil, becoming the first Swazi
warmer southern parts of the country. exports prospects of the overall market organisation to achieve this status.
This special tree has deep roots on for marula oil in the coming years. The organic certification was awarded
the African continent and not only The European market and value- by EcoCert and allows the Company
features in countless African fables, adding opportunities for new products to secure a 50 percent price premium
but its fruit also offers a range of uses include potentially offering refined on bulk oil sales to Europe and was
that go beyond it simply providing a marula oil from the country of origin expected to boost the Company’s
tasty snack. such as Zimbabwe, rather than having sales by US$34,388 in 2008 as 2007
Between mid-January and mid-March, the refining done in the destination was the first year of processing organic
these ripe, golden ovals find their final market. Marula oils.
resting place on the ground, just waiting The competitive position of this oil According to the Import Promotion
to be hand-harvested and turned into depends on factors like price, quality, Desk (IPD) of 2018, no European trade
the various products including the supply capacity and certification. is recorded for imports of marula oil
famous creamy drink so many people The principal bottleneck is supply specifically, instead, imports of the oil
across the world have come to know capacity for some African countries. are part of a larger product group with
and love, the Amarula. As for Zimbabwe, the wild harvested other fixed vegetable oils and fats.
It also offers a range of health benefits fruits are widely located and with According to International Trade
too. normal rains, one tree can give up 500 Centre (ITC), European imports of
The amount of Vitamin C found in a kgs in a year. vegetable oils (for all industries) grew
single marula fruit is said to be eight Marula oil production will have to grow by 16 percent from 2015 to 2017 in
times that of the amount found in an beyond the relatively small existing terms of volume.
orange, making it an excellent source production centres in sub-Saharan When cooked, the fruit can be turned
of the vitamin. African countries, like Zimbabwe, into jam, juices, jelly and of course, our
The EU, Zimbabwes biggest export South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia, to popular Amarula liqueur.
destination for fruits and vegetables, meet future demand. It also used as cooking oil in African
imported a total of USD$149 million An option could be the cultivation of countries, owing to its high oxidative
worth of seed, fruits and spores the marula tree in suitable regions. stability.
according to the trade map. In Zimbabwe there is little known ZimTrade is ready to assist
The seeds found in marula fruit are success on sustainable cultivation of Zimbabwean exporters and potential
located inside the walnut-sized stone the marula trees. exporters to access new markets and
in the middle and have a very delicate In Eswatini, the Swazi Indigenous requirements for producers to satisfy
and distinct aroma. Products (SIP) was established in international regulators concerned
They are eaten as nuts by both 2004 as a community owned, not for with consumer food safety, evidence
humans and animals alike, with the profit company set up to empower of sustainably safe and hygienic
oils extracted from them being used rural Swazi women through the manufacturing, and local standards
for cooking, as well as skin and hair development and commercialisation and testing infrastructure.
health. of Marula kernels.
The company produces a range of
10September 2020
Time to explore export markets for sweet potatoes
The statement that Zimbabwe’s representing an average annual The United Kingdom imported
soils and climatic conditions are growth of 15 percent in value sweet potatoes worth US$107
conducive for growing an array between 2015 and 2019. million while Germany was the
of export products reflects on the During the same time the import third largest market, importing
potential that local farmers have volumes of sweet potatoes US$57 million worth of sweet
in contributing the national export increased from 450,970 kgs in potatoes in 2019.
earnings. 2015 to 844,472 kgs in 2019. The European Union (EU) alone
From food to flowers, produce Last year alone, two largest accounted for 73.1 percent of the
from Zimbabwe are renowned for importers of sweet potatoes, global market share in world
quality in international markets Netherlands (159 tonnes) and imports of sweet potatoes in 2019,
such as Netherlands, which is the United Kingdom (137 tonnes) are making it a good potential market
largest importer of Zimbabwean already leading trading partners for growers.
horticultural produce. for Zimbabwe’s horticultural Given the import figures in Europe,
Of the export products with produce. the market presents opportunities
potential, sweet potatoes are This this makes it easy for local for Zimbabwean farmers who
one the trending produces over farmers to increase exports of can leverage on the interim
the past few years, offering sweet potatoes, leveraging on Economic Partnership Agreement
opportunities for Zimbabwean current performing produces. (iEPA), which offers duty free and
farmers to participate in regional By focusing on Netherlands, local quota-free market access to the
and international markets. farmers can tap into established European Union market.
The global market for sweet routes created by the country Apart from the European market,
potatoes has been rapidly into Europe. there are also opportunities in
expanding, increasing by over 130 According to Netherlands’ Centre emerging markets such as United
percent in some markets over the for Promotion of Imports from Arab Emirates in Middle East and
last five years and the European developing countries (CBI) a large Asian countries such as Japan,
Union tops the list of growing quantity of the sweet potatoes Thailand and Singapore.
markets. entering mainland Europe are According to Trade Map, Japan
Sweet potatoes have been traded through the Netherlands. has recorded an increase in
growing in popularity among From here sweet potatoes are import value of sweet potatoes
consumers immensely within distributed to countries such from US$16.4 million in 2015 to
a short time, presenting as Germany, France, Sweden, US$20.7 million in 2020.
viable export opportunities for Finland as well as the United During the same period, imports
Zimbabwean growers to tap into Kingdom. of sweet potatoes grew in
and grow the country’s exports In 2019, Netherlands was the top Thailand and Singapore from
According to Trade Map, the importer, having imported US$157 US$11.6 million and US$9.5 million
global market value of sweet million worth of sweet potatoes, to US$17.4 million and US$13.7
potatoes imported in 2019 accounting for 22.5 percent of million, respectively.
was about US$706 million, global trade. Regional markets such as
11
11Trading Post Continued from page 9
Angola and Namibia are some variety is usually grown to small- and the use irrigation systems is very
of the easy-to-access markets to-medium in size and are slender low.
offering opportunities especially and long. Their exports are therefore affected
for smallholder farmers who This sweet potato is a favourite by high labour and input costs, high
can leverage on regional and for mashing or roasting, and it has compliance costs to technical or market
continental trade agreements that a rose-coloured skin and ‘super- access standards, overuse of land
have improved market access. sweet’ orange flesh which is firm, in growing areas leading to reduced
dense and remains bright when yields, disease and pest pressure, high
Understanding sweet cooked. freight costs, multiple taxations from
The Georgia Jet is a new variety
potatoes with fast growth and higher yields.
the government and the youth lacking
interest in agribusiness activities.
The sweet potato (Ipomoea The variety matures quickly, and
However, representatives from
batatas) is a nutritious and the sweet potato is moist, sweet,
delicious root vegetable unlike mildly fibrous and the flesh is reputable farms, Talana farm from
its close namesake, regular bright orange. Chegutu and Lingfield farm from Gweru
potatoes, which are tubers. This variety is cold tolerant participated and gave comprehensive
Both regular and sweet potatoes and can supposedly be planted testimonies of their success story
are grown under the soil but come even in areas with shorter from supplying the local market
out very different when it comes to growing seasons. It matures in to certification and becoming top
taste, density and nutrition. approximately between 80-100 exporters.
Besides being rich in simple days. Talana farm even expressed that there
starches, raw sweet potatoes The Beaureguard variety is is a high untapped potential in exports
are also rich in dietary fibre, regarded as probably the world’s that sometimes they even fail to meet
complex carbohydrates and most popular sweet potato. demand thereby encouraging many
beta-carotene, with reasonable It is favoured for its high yields of farmers to venture into exports.
contents of other micronutrients uniform, reddish-purple disease
which include vitamin B5 and B6 resistant sweet potatoes with
as well as manganese. tasty and deep-orange flesh that States of America, Spain, Egypt,
In a world where consumers are also keeps well in storage. China and Honduras.
shifting towards health eating, Most parts in Zimbabwe have rich From Africa’s perspective,
sweet potatoes are gaining enough soils suitable for growing the largest suppliers to both
popularity for, among other things, sweet potatoes and the focus Netherlands and UK in 2019
promoting normal function of thus far has been particularly on were Egypt and South Africa with
the nervous system and normal the Bearuguard and Covington Uganda, Namibia and Senegal
psychological function as well as varieties and Zimbabwean being the other notable suppliers.
reducing tiredness and fatigue. farmers should start looking into The European market largely
According to the Centre for growing these for exports. prefers medium-sized varieties,
Science in the Public Interest Further to exporting raw sweet with organically produced products
(CSPI) in the USA, sweet potatoes potatoes, local businesses can fetching a premium price compared
have the highest rank in nutritional also consider value addition to to others, and the produce has to
value among several other foods. earn more. be harvested at the right time of the
Their leaves are also edible and Sweet potato chips, crisps and season.
can be prepared like turnip greens sweet potato flour are some of The EU market is also synonymous
and spinach. the value-added products that with demanding produce that meets
In addition, sweet potato is can be produced at low cost by the desired high-quality standards.
cholesterol-free, thus appealing local businesses. EU buyers are also highly concerned
to the growing number of health- with quality certifications, plant
conscious consumers across the Exporting sweet health compliance (phytosanitary
world. potatoes to the requirements), as well as social
There are various kinds of and environmental certification,
sweet potatoes and the common European Union such as minimal use of pesticides
varieties currently leading in and employee welfare.
global exports include the Reaching the European Netherland’s CBI notes that
American Covington, Georgia Jets Union market demands a pesticide residues are one of the
and the Spanish Beauregard. strict adherence to market crucial issues for fruit and vegetable
These also come with the diverse requirements, focusing on specific suppliers.
types of skin and flesh colour, that variety and quality preferences. Buyers in several EU countries such
is white, red, orange and yellow. Currently, largest external as the United Kingdom, Germany,
The Covington sweet potato suppliers into EU are United
12September 2020
Netherlands and Austria, use is produced on the farm by Although competition might
maximum residue levels which minimising unfavourable seem stiff, adherence to market
are stricter. environmental impacts of requirements and production
Access to the EU market farming operations, reducing of a high-quality vegetable will
requires growers to have, in the use of chemicals and earn producers a share of this
the very least, Global G.A.P. also ensuring a responsible market.
certification. approach to worker safety Zimbabwe also enjoys
This is a voluntary certification and health as well as animal favourable trading conditions
standard that European, and welfare. with EU under the Interim
now some Middle East, buyers It is imperative for prospective Economic Partnership
insist on before one can growers of the sweet potato Agreement, which offers duty
become a supplier. targeting the EU market to free, quota free preferential
This standard is primarily closely observe the market’s treatment for produce entering
designed to provide requirements, as it is buyers the EU market.
reassurance to consumers who determine the terms of
that the food they are buying trade.
13
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