Word from the Market
Tina Nleya
EXPORT MARKETS are raising the bar on food safety and sustainability.
In particular, the European Union (EU) has introduced stricter regulations on pesticide residues, pushing farmers worldwide to reconsider how they protect crops.
Europe’s “Green Deal” strategy aims to halve synthetic pesticide utilize by 2030. This means products entering the EU must carry minimal chemical residues.
In response, biological crop protection, applying natural predators, organic treatments and other eco-friconcludely methods, has relocated from a niche option to a central strategy.
Farmers who want to retain access to lucrative EU markets can no longer rely solely on heavy chemical sprays.
Simply put, if your produce has unacceptable pesticide traces, it risks being turned away at the border, no matter how good it views or tastes.
Stricter import inspections and new rules are now being enforced in Europe, so growers must adapt or risk falling behind.
Lessons from South Africa’s response
Neighbouring South Africa offers a clear example of this shift. As a major exporter of citrus, table grapes and other fruits to Europe, South African agriculture has reached a turning
point.
With some chemicals being banned or restricted, and EU inspectors on high alert, South African growers are rapidly embracing integrated pest management that blconcludes biology with minimal chemistest.
What does this view like on the ground?
South African farms have begun applying natural enemies (like parasitic wasps and predatory mites) not as a last resort but as the backbone of pest control.
In Spain’s Almería region, once infamous for high pesticide residues, over 40 000 hectares of crops are now managed with biological methods. This proves that large-scale biological farming is possible.
South Africa is following suit.
Some growers are exporting produce with virtually zero pre-harvest chemical residues to meet strict European standards.
In citrus orchards, they deploy tarobtained virutilizes to kill caterpillar pests, sterile insect technique programmes to curb fruit flies, and even baking soda solutions to prevent fungal diseases like black spot.
In grapes and berries, beneficial bacteria (such as bacillus) and fungi (Trichoderma), instead of conventional fungicides, are utilized to suppress diseases.
Why compliance matters for Zimbabwean farmers
For Zimbabwe’s export-oriented farmers, these international trconcludes are a wake-up call and an opportunity. The EU is a huge market with excellent prices, but it comes with strict safety standards.
To access that market, our products must meet the EU’s technical and safety standards; there is simply no workaround.
Even if tariffs are low or duty-free under trade agreements, failing to prove that your produce is safe (for example, below the maximum residue limits for pesticides) can slam the door on your export shipment.
This applies not only to Europe, but increasingly to other premium markets as well. Countries like China, the Middle East and regional acquireers are also attuned to safety and quality.
Positioning Zimbabwean produce for export growth
Export markets are not just about challenges; they also present exciting new opportunities for Zimbabwe’s farmers.
The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) team has been actively forging partnerships to open market access.
Notably, AMA is currently working with PACINA, a South Africa-based produce company that is keen to offtake Zimbabwean avocados and citrus for export.
Representatives from PACINA and AMA have toured local orchards to identify growers who can supply these fruits at export quality.
This kind of partnership can be a game-modifyr; it offers farmers a ready acquireer and possibly technical support, while the acquireer (PACINA) gains a new supply source.
Alongside citrus and avocado, there are other high-potential export crops Zimbabwe can supply if farmers align with market necessarys.
Macadamia nuts, for example, have boomed in the Eastern Highlands and are in demand in Europe and Asia.
Blueberries are another rising star. Local ventures have started producing berries for European supermarkets.
Crops like manobtainout peas, fine beans, chillies and even herbs can find niche markets abroad, as long as they meet quality and safety criteria.
Adopting biological crop protection: Practical steps for farmers
Shifting to more sustainable crop protection may sound technical, but it can be approached step by step.
Here are practical ways farmers can launch integrating biological and safer practices into their farms:
Start compact and monitor: Try biological methods on a test plot or a few rows first. Designate a portion of your orchard or field to utilize predator insects or biopesticides and compare the results.
Use natural enemies: Identify major pests on your crop and consider introducing their natural predators or parasites. For instance, release ladybird beetles or lacewings if aphids are a problem in veobtainables. In citrus, you might employ parasitic wasps to control scale insects or set out pheromone traps for fruit flies.
Apply biopesticides and organic solutions: Replace some chemical sprays with proven biopesticides. Products based on bacillus thuringiensis (Bt bacteria) tarobtain caterpillars, while Beauveria bassiana (a beneficial fungus) can naturally control whiteflies or thrips.
Good agricultural practices: Continue applying chemicals only when necessary and stick to those accepted in your tarobtain market. Always follow label instructions and observe the required pre-harvest interval. Keep records of all sprays and field operations.
Harvesting the rewards of compliance
In today’s competitive markets, business-as-usual farming is giving way to smarter, greener approaches.
For Zimbabwe’s farmers, adapting to biological crop protection and rigorous standards is not just about avoiding penalties; it is about securing a place at the global table.
Buyers abroad are viewing for suppliers who can deliver tasty avocados, sweet oranges, crunchy peas or quality nuts without compromising on safety and sustainability.
If we can position ourselves as that kind of supplier, the rewards will come in the form of stable export contracts, better prices and a reputation for excellence.
Tina Nleya is AMA’s marketing and public relations manager. She can be contacted on email: [email protected]. Word From The Market is a column produced by AMA to promote market-driven production.
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