AGRO-PROCESSING firm, Stagri-Brands, in partnership with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) and ZimTrade, is set to unlock a billion-dollar chilli production market by supplying 50 000 tonnes annually to China.
The project is poised to benefit about 300 000 farmers across Zimbabwe, providing both income and empowerment opportunities through an out-grower scheme.
Chinese buyers, who visited Stagri-Brands’ value-addition facilities in Banket this week, expressed interest in sourcing Zimbabwean chillies due to their natural and organic quality.
“We are excited with what we witnessed today and most of our chillies come from India, but we are in love with Zimbabwean products because they are natural," said Huang Hwang, one of the Chinese buyers.
"There is a huge potential for the local industry to meet our demand, so we are going to start with small shipments."
Zimbabwe’s chilli industry has the potential to generate US$300 million annually and can be grown across all ecological regions. To maximise this potential, production will be expanded to 35 000 village business units, including 9 000 school business units, ensuring broad-based community participation.
ARDA operations director Washington Katiyo said the parastatal had partnered Stagri-Brands to “create value for our communities".
Zimbabwe has vast chilli potential and the finalisation of the trade protocol on chilli between Zimbabwe and China will unlock opportunities.
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The ZimTrade chief executive officer stressed that the availability of a large Chinese market underscores the need for swift implementation of the trade protocol on chilli between Zimbabwe and China.
Valentine Tapfumaneyi, Stagri-Brands chief executive officer, said the firm was ready to supply 50 000 tonnes of chillies to China, with a focus on both cultivation and value addition.
“We currently have centres across the country, doing 100 hectares of the crop and our partnership with ARDA will see every village business unit doing the crop. It will emerge as key empowerment to communities, considering it grows in all our ecological regions.”
