Strong demand for Zimbabwean agricultural products in Mozambique – The Herald

Demand for Zimbabwean agricultural products remains robust and largely unmet in Mozambique, creating significant opportunities for farmers and agro-processors to expand into this growing market. Calls for Zimbabwean producers to strategically position themselves to meet this demand are intensifying. Mozambican supermarkets have expressed keen interest in Zimbabwean manufactured food items such as beverages, bread, dairy products, and cereals.

Beyond processed goods, there is also substantial appetite for fresh produce, including potatoes, tomatoes, butternuts, peas, onions, lettuce, cabbages, blueberries, grapes, apples, peppers, carrots, and leafy vegetables. The opportunities extend further into livestock and animal products, with poultry, beef, and eggs from Zimbabwe widely regarded as superior in quality compared to local alternatives. Encouragingly, high-level political engagement is reinforcing agricultural cooperation between the two nations.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has consistently emphasised the importance of strengthening agricultural ties under the framework of the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation. “President Mnangagwa has instructed us to facilitate engagement between Zimbabwean and Mozambican farmers to encourage knowledge transfer and capacity building to ensure food security for both countries,” said Ambassador Matemadanda. ZimTrade has over the years been facilitating outward trade and seller missions to Beira, Chimoio and Tete in Mozambique, which allowed Zimbabwean companies to engage with their Mozambican counterparts in trade and investment discussions.

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Zimbabwean companies also toured Mozambican operations to identify areas for enhanced cooperation. Despite proximity and strong demand, procedural bottlenecks continue to hinder growth. Chief among these is the requirement for a Phytosanitary Certificate for plant-based exports.

Issued by Plant Quarantine Services under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, the certificate confirms that shipments are free from pests and diseases and requires physical inspection of production sites. Limited inspection capacity often results in delays, particularly problematic for perishable commodities where timing determines profitability.

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