Zimbabwe is expected to earn over US$60 million from flower exports for 2007, up from US$58 million realised in 2006. "This will be the gross export realisation from about 12 million kilogrammes of fresh flower exported," Horticultural Promotion Council chief executive Mr Basilio Sandamu said on Monday.
"Figures are being finalised and we may have slight changes from our projection but not very far from what we are expecting." Flower production has been on a steep decline over the past nine years due to dwindling production levels. Prior to that, Zimbabwe used to be a major exporter of fresh flowers to international markets, mainly Latin America and Europe.
Plans, however, were underway to revive production following the establishment of the Horticultural Liaison Committee, which is already operational, said Mr Sandamu. "The committee is now in place, but it is yet to be officially launched but we have met on a number of occasions. Its key objective (the committee) is to plan for the development of the industry, identify constraints and address them expeditiously. "The committee will also be responsible for educating farmers, especially those who took up horticultural production after the land reform programme, to produce good quality products in conformity with our market requirements, both local and external," said Mr Sandamu.
Meanwhile, the torrential rains that have been falling countrywide over the past two months have affected flower production. Although actual figures were yet to be obtained, Mr Sandamu said "there was a general decline in production". "In circumstances where the rains are too excessive and limited sunshine, as was the case over the past two months in most parts of Zimbabwe, then flowers will not bloom and flash quickly.
"This will adversely affect production and we will be soon compiling figures to establish how this has affected production."
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