STORY: Zimbabwean blueberry producers seek access to Chinese market
SHOOTING TIME: May 13, 2024
DATELINE: May 21, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:59
LOCATION: Harare
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of a blueberry farm
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CLARENCE MWALE, CEO of Fair-Mark Company
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): EDWIN MOYO, Blueberry farmer
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CLARENCE MWALE, CEO of Fair-Mark Company
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ALLAN MAJURU, CEO of ZimTrade

STORYLINE:

Zimbabwe, a major blueberry producer in southern Africa, has traditionally exported its berries to the European Union and Britain. Now, it seeks to gain access to the Chinese market.

According to Clarence Mwale, chief executive officer (CEO) of Fair-Mark, a local company supporting exporters in meeting international sourcing requirements, Zimbabwe has a competitive advantage in producing blueberries, harvesting earlier than other competitors.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CLARENCE MWALE, CEO of Fair-Mark Company
"We are at a massive advantage where we come into season two months ahead of other countries that we compete with, so we are trying to place ourselves in a position where we can maximize on the two months, where we are the sole suppliers from the Southern hemisphere."

Edwin Moyo is a local blueberry farmer. He aims to tap directly into the Chinese market once a trade protocol between China and Zimbabwe is approved. 
   
Currently, Moyo produces over 100 tonnes of blueberries annually from a 10-hectare project that is under expansion. 

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): EDWIN MOYO, Blueberry farmer
"We are targeted to go to about 200 hectares, all that is going to be exported into the Chinese market. China is growing as a big market, and it will be worthwhile to export directly from the farm into China."

Last year, Zimbabwe shipped its first consignment of citrus fruit to China, marking a significant step in expanding its agricultural exports.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CLARENCE MWALE, CEO of Fair-Mark Company
"We are now working with the government of Zimbabwe to try and understand what the Chinese market requires so that we can help build the capacity and develop and implement the systems that are required for the local blueberry farmers to access the Chinese market."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ALLAN MAJURU, CEO of ZimTrade
"We want to also incorporate blueberries, pecan nuts, chilies, and sesame, just to mention a few to make sure that we grow the export basket and diversify it to China."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Harare.
(XHTV)