Zimbabwe’s Citrus Exports Surge To US$15 Million In Ten Months To October 2025
Zimbabwe’s citrus exports have demonstrated robust growth, reaching US$15 million in the ten months leading up to October 2025. This represents a 5.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year and signals strong progress towards the nation’s ambitious target of US$84 million in citrus exports by 2030. According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), export volumes increased by nine percent, from 62.8 million kilograms in 2024 to 68.6 million kilograms in 2025, underscoring both quantity and value growth in this vital agricultural sector.
The country’s citrus product basket includes fresh and dried citrus fruits such as oranges, mandarins, clementines, grapefruit and pomelos, as well as lemons and limes. It also embraces processed products like frozen and unfrozen orange juice, unfermented grapefruit juices, and other single fruit juices. Over the past 15 years, citrus exports have soared by 264 percent, climbing from US$4 million in 2010 to the current US$15 million. This remarkable growth aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which emphasises agricultural diversification, foreign exchange generation, and rural job creation.
Significantly, the area under citrus cultivation continues to expand annually. In Beitbridge District alone, Agritex officer Mr Masauso Mawocha reports that nearly 4,100 hectares are dedicated to citrus farming. “We are seeing a surge in farmers embracing citrus production in places like Khwalu, Shashe, and Ndambe Phase 2. Commercial estates such as Nottingham Estate, Bishopstone, Cawood, Luhwade, Shambayethu, Benfer Estate, and new ventures including Orange Ville Pvt Ltd and Toppick Investments have also made commendable strides,” he said.
Nottingham Estate plans to increase its citrus footprint from 950 hectares to 1,500 hectares, signalling strong confidence in the crop’s profitability. Meanwhile, Toppick Investments, led by CEO Mr Danisa Moyo, has committed to a large-scale citrus project, currently nurturing 230,000 orange trees on 800 hectares with plans to plant an additional 115,000 trees. These trees are supported by high-quality propagated material imported from South Africa to ensure superior yields.
Orange Ville Pvt Ltd, another emerging player, has invested a substantial US$30 million in their citrus venture. Their initial planting covers 700 hectares, with targets to expand to 3,000 hectares by 2030. The company has established a processing plant capable of handling up to 90,000 tonnes of oranges per season, which they aim to increase to 200,000 tonnes by 2030. This vertical integration of production and processing secures better value addition within Zimbabwe’s economy.
In line with these developments, Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited is engaged in discussions with government authorities to establish a vast 2,700-hectare citrus plantation in the Zhovhe area of Beitbridge District. This project would further boost production capacity, support rural livelihoods, and attract significant investment.
The country’s Horticultural Development Council (HDC) has set ambitious targets to double the citrus-growing area from 4,000 to 8,000 hectares by 2030. Achieving this goal requires an investment influx of US$48 million, projected to create 24,000 new jobs along the value chain, including farming, processing, logistics, and marketing. This aligns closely with Zimbabwe’s commitment to youth and women’s empowerment within agricultural value chains, providing opportunities for inclusion and economic participation.
The Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS 2): 2026–30 identifies Zimbabwe’s citrus sector as a critical sub-sector driving export revenues, job creation, and rural transformation. It highlights the sector’s reputation for producing high-quality Navel and Valencia oranges, soft citrus varieties such as mandarins and clementines, lemons, and grapefruit. According to the strategy, the citrus value chain is projected to expand from 347,000 tonnes in 2025/2026 to 482,000 tonnes by 2030/2031, with its gross value expected to rise from US$576 million to US$925 million by 2030.
This growth trajectory underlines the critical role citrus farming plays in Zimbabwe’s broader economic vision, exemplifying how structured investment, innovative farming practices, and value addition can transform agriculture into a powerhouse for export revenue and livelihoods. Importantly, projects such as those in Beitbridge demonstrate the feasibility of scaling production while fostering rural development.
The story of citrus farming in Zimbabwe is not just about numbers but about people — the farmers, agronomists, investors, and communities who together weave an agricultural success narrative. Smallholder farmers, with support from agricultural extension officers like Mr Mawocha, are increasingly adopting citrus, diversifying their income sources, and contributing to food security and export growth.
The upward trend continues to inspire optimism that by integrating modern agricultural techniques, improving access to quality planting material, and strengthening processing infrastructure, Zimbabwe can solidify its position as a leading citrus exporter in Africa. As stakeholders rally under the framework of NDS1 and AFSRTS 2, sectors like citrus farming exemplify the pathways available to drive inclusive economic growth, create jobs for women and youth, and add substantial value to national export earnings.
FFA Explainer Box: Citrus Value Chain
The “citrus value chain” refers to the full range of activities involved in the production, processing, distribution, and marketing of citrus fruits and related products. This includes cultivation, harvesting, transportation, processing into juice and other goods, packaging, and export. Strengthening each link enhances income, employment, and economic resilience in agricultural communities.
In conclusion, Zimbabwe’s achievements in citrus exports over the past decade provide a vivid illustration of agricultural transformation through focused investment and policy support. The country’s commitment to expanding production and processing capacity offers immense potential for sustained growth, rural empowerment, and foreign exchange earnings over the years to come.
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