By Cliff Chiduku
Last week, someone vented his frustrations on social media after buying four tomatoes for US$1 from a vegetable vendor in a leafy Harare suburb. The vendor justifies her prices, saying the tomatoes were imports from Zambia.
There is no justification for Zimbabwe to import tomatoes from its northern neighbour given that the country is endowed with good soils and climatic conditions suitable for tomatoes growing.
Import substitution is vital in ensuring that the country realises its aspirations as espoused in the National Development Strategy 1.
A survey carried by the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) revealed that these tomatoes were being smuggled from neighbouring countries by unscrupulous people.
Smuggle tomatoes into Zimbabwe is tantamount to shooting ourselves in the foot. It implies that we are exporting jobs to other countries and loss of the much-needed foreign currency.
There is no doubt there is a ready market for tomatoes in Zimbabwe because the vegetable forms part of every meal. Fresh fruits can be used in salads and cooked with relish. Cultivars grown for processing are canned and made into purees, sauces or juices.
According to FAOSTAT, in 2020, Zimbabwe imported 2 tonnes and exported 4 tonnes of tomatoes after producing 25 113 tonnes. In 2016, Zimbabwe imported 102 tonnes of tomatoes valued at US$106 000. Zimbabwe’s highest tomato production was in 2015 when it produced 25 323 tonnes from 3 508 hectares.
Globally, major producers of tomatoes are China, India, Turkey, US, Egypt and Italy. The global average production for tomatoes from 2015 to 2020 was 216 396 496 tonnes.
That tomatoes are of nutritious could be another reason why they are on demand all-year round. They are rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, protein, fat, among others. Tomatoes are juicy and sweet, full of antioxidants, and may help fight several diseases. They are especially high in lycopene, a compound linked to improved heart health, cancer prevention, and protection against sunburns.
Since tomatoes are perishable, before one decides to venture into tomatoes farming, there is need to think about market. Is it in the village, at the growth point or town? How are you going to get your tomatoes to the market? Farmers also need to think of the cost of the production, seeds, fertilizers, and other pest and diseases control chemicals against prices obtainable in the market.
Tomato farming is one of the few lucrative and less capital-intensive agribusiness to venture into. Anyone can venture into tomato farming if they have the resources and knowledge to do so.
The good part is that farmers can venture into tomato farming anywhere in Zimbabwe as long as there is a reliable source of water. Tomato planting is usually around April and March. Tomato farming is very simple as it can be carried out at any capacity, either at the backyard (in urban settings), plot and farm (for commercial purposes).
Major varieties grown in Zimbabwe are from Prime Seedco and Avanos include Roma VF, Tengeru 97, Star 9006, RoyalePlus, Rodade, Daisy F1, Supersweet F1, Thomas F1, CandellaF1, Akella F1, Alambra F1, Perseo F1 and Vectra F1, among others.
Tomatoes thrive well on any soil provided it is fertile and well-drained. However, agronomists encourage farmers to avoid growing tomatoes on land that had tobacco because the crop is sensitive to chemicals used in tobacco farming. Farmers must also avoid smoking close to tomatoes as this could pass viruses to the plants. However, tomatoes are also sensitive to weather. They are susceptible to frost so farmers are encouraged to grow them in warm areas during winter.
Farmers are also encouraged to consult Agritex representatives in their areas on which control measures to take when pests or diseases are observed in the field. This way you are guaranteed to get the best control measure available and alternative.
Tomato farming in Zimbabwe remains lucrative. It is undoubtedly one of the agribusinesses that can spill in cash all-year around. Starting a tomato farm is easy.
All it requires is seriousness and one will discover that making money is not difficult after all.
Cliff Chiduku is Agricultural Marketing Authority communications officer
Word from the Market is a column produced by the Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA) to promote market-driven production of agricultural products.
(AMA) revealed that these tomatoes were being smuggled from neighbouring countries by unscrupulous people.
Smuggle tomatoes into Zimbabwe is tantamount to shooting ourselves in the foot. It implies that we are exporting jobs to other countries and loss of the much-needed foreign currency.
There is no doubt there is a ready market for tomatoes in Zimbabwe because the vegetable forms part of every meal. Fresh fruits can be used in salads and cooked with relish. Cultivars grown for processing are canned and made into purees, sauces or juices.
According to FAOSTAT, in 2020, Zimbabwe imported 2 tonnes and exported 4 tonnes of tomatoes after producing 25 113 tonnes. In 2016, Zimbabwe imported 102 tonnes of tomatoes valued at US$106 000. Zimbabwe’s highest tomato production was in 2015 when it produced 25 323 tonnes from 3 508 hectares.
Globally, major producers of tomatoes are China, India, Turkey, US, Egypt and Italy. The global average production for tomatoes from 2015 to 2020 was 216 396 496 tonnes.
That tomatoes are of nutritious could be another reason why they are on demand all-year round. They are rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, protein, fat, among others. Tomatoes are juicy and sweet, full of antioxidants, and may help fight several diseases. They are especially high in lycopene, a compound linked to improved heart health, cancer prevention, and protection against sunburns.
Since tomatoes are perishable, before one decides to venture into tomatoes farming, there is need to think about market. Is it in the village, at the growth point or town? How are you going to get your tomatoes to the market? Farmers also need to think of the cost of the production, seeds, fertilizers, and other pest and diseases control chemicals against prices obtainable in the market.
Tomato farming is one of the few lucrative and less capital-intensive agribusiness to venture into. Anyone can venture into tomato farming if they have the resources and knowledge to do so. The good part is that farmers can venture into tomato farming anywhere in Zimbabwe as long as there is a reliable source of water. Tomato planting is usually around April and March. Tomato farming is very simple as it can be carried out at any capacity, either at the backyard (in urban settings), plot and farm (for commercial purposes).
Major varieties grown in Zimbabwe are from Prime Seedco and Avanos include Roma VF, Tengeru 97, Star 9006, RoyalePlus, Rodade, Daisy F1, Supersweet F1, Thomas F1, CandellaF1, Akella F1, Alambra F1, Perseo F1 and Vectra F1, among others.
Tomatoes thrive well on any soil provided it is fertile and well-drained. However, agronomists encourage farmers to avoid growing tomatoes on land that had tobacco because the crop is sensitive to chemicals used in tobacco farming. Farmers must also avoid smoking close to tomatoes as this could pass viruses to the plants. However, tomatoes are also sensitive to weather. They are susceptible to frost so farmers are encouraged to grow them in warm areas during winter.
Farmers are also encouraged to consult Agritex representatives in their areas on which control measures to take when pests or diseases are observed in the field. This way you are guaranteed to get the best control measure available and alternative.
Tomato farming in Zimbabwe remains lucrative. It is undoubtedly one of the agribusinesses that can spill in cash all-year around. Starting a tomato farm is easy.
All it requires is seriousness and one will discover that making money is not difficult after all.
Word from the Market is a column produced by the Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA) to promote market-driven production of agricultural products.
