According to the Zimbabwean media News Day, the government said that according to the citrus phytosanitary protocol (hereinafter referred to as the "protocol") signed by China and Zimbabwe, the country plans to start the export of citrus fruits to China this season.
According to the report, for Zimbabwe, the protocol signed in January this year is a major progress in getting rid of its over-dependence on the South African and European markets.Zimbabwe citrus was qualified for export to China as early as 2015, but China and Zimbabwe continued to negotiate inspection and quarantine requirements in the following years, and finally reached a consensus this year.
The new protocol requires the establishment of a cold chain system for fresh citrus fruits exported to China from the port of shipment to prevent the survival of pests such as falsetail moths, which feed on various crops such as cotton, volcanic fruit and citrus.
Zimbabwe's Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said recently that Zimbabwe's trade potential with China is huge.
"There has been an increase in Chinese traders coming to Zimbabwe to seek business opportunities. It's just that the travel restrictions caused by the epidemic have reduced the number," she said."Zimbabwe is also promoting the export of other agricultural products to China. If the trade potential and market access opportunities between our two countries are fully tapped, these trade numbers will have a lot of room for growth."
At present, Zimbabwe can export fresh products to China Citrus includes sweet oranges, oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes, among others.Previous media reports pointed out that China's opening up will bring a wider market to the country's citrus growers (previously, it mainly supplied South Africa and Europe), and the Chinese market has diversified demand, not only primary fruit, but also secondary and tertiary fruit. There is also considerable demand for citrus in China.The country also hopes that the development of this trade will bring new possibilities for more Zimbabwean agricultural products and successfully enter the Chinese market in the future.
