The production of horticultural products in Zimbabwe is expected to grow this year, as the sector establishes new markets in the Far East.

Zimbabwe has witnessed a drop in horticultural production as the sector has slumped into recession over the past five years. And its traditional markets are being snapped up by other leading producers such as Kenya, Sri Lanka and countries in Latin America. The drop in growth is largely due to successive droughts, which gripped the country hardest in 2001-02 season.

The emergence of Asian markets has created hope with farmers who have been finding it harder to compete in the EU - which accounts for almost half of all Zimbabwe's agricultural exports - due to stringent quality requirements. Now the Zim government is shifting its focus.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is now predicting a 28 per cent rise in horticultural exports this year driven by adding value and adequate funding.

The bank has also identified increased participation of small-holder farmers in flower production as an additional supporting factor.

Multi-lateral agencies such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank consider that diversifying its horticultural exports and switching to higher-value goods is an economic priority for Zimbabwe, which is still an agriculture and horticulture based economy.

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