China’s much anticipated citrus export project with Zimbabwe appears to be heading towards a massive contract farming scheme, starting with a 3,000 ha seedling farm in Mazowe run by the China Industrial International Group.
China and Zimbabwe Agricultural Company undertake ambitious US$ 2.5 agri project
Aiming to help Zimbabwe’s government to revamp the nation’s agricultural sector, the China and Zimbabwe Agricultural Company has started an ambitious US$ 2,5 million seed breeding project in Mazowe. The investment was made through the China Industrial International Group, the parent company of the China and Zimbabwe Agricultural Company.
China Industrial International Group chief executive Nie Haiyang stated that the seed breeding base in Mazowe would start with citrus production: "The seed breeding base in Mazowe is targeting an estimated one million seedlings per year”, adding that they were targeting to distribute five million trees seedlings in the next five years, adding that a minimum of 3,000 hectares had been earmarked for the project.
Under the project, apples, grapes, bananas, peaches and pears would be grown by local farmers under contract farming. The project is expected to see Zimbabwe generate foreign currency as the local farmers' produce would be exported to China.
Also, the project should cascade into the southern African region, as China looks further afield to invest in the continent's agriculture to provide food for the Asian nation.
