Assessment of Market Potential for Horticultural Produce for Smallholder Farmers around Mutare City, Eastern Zimbabwe

Abstract

We carried out a market assessment to understand horticulture market dynamics around Mutare City, eastern Zimbabwe. We used the value chain development approach of starting from understanding what the market wants then using information gathered to inform producers of horticultural produce. This approach is underpinned by market-led production concept. Our study results highlighted opportunities for the participation of smallholder farmers in the horticulture sub-sector value chain; it provides horticulture market intelligence to smallholder farmers as to which crops to grow, when and for which market niche. There are opportunities for smallholder farmers to fill the identified horticultural produce demand gap around Mutare City, eastern Zimbabwe. Smallholder farmers could capitalize on the opportunity of horticulture produce scarcity that exists across Mutare City, so as to engage in market-led horticulture production. Our study contributes to a knowledge base of horticulture value chain development around Mutare City, eastern Zimbabwe and related areas aimed at economic development and peri-urban and urban household poverty reduction, which involves addressing the major constraints and opportunities faced between farmers and traders at marketing systems along the given horticultural value chain.

Urban Horticulture for Food Security and Livelihood Restoration in Mutare City, Eastern Zimbabwe

“…In that regard, project targeted households received market linkage training on market search and market-led production orientation, horticulture production planning, and cropping calendars, costing and pricing (main focus on gross margin analysis) and record keeping. As reported by Mashapa et al (2014b), the present case study also recorded that high-value horticultural crop varieties were produced by urban farmers in Mutare urban and these included onions (Allium cepa), cabbages (Brassica oleracea), rape (Brassica raparapa), carrots (Daucus carota sativus), spinach (Brassica oleracea capitata), tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), eggplant (Solana melongena) and butternut (Cucurbita moschata) among others. While reliable markets for quality horticultural produce were reported to be available to farmers, formal markets namely;…”

“…Farmer group formation and strengthening training was reported to have been done (Caritas International Zimbabwe, 2014). Farmer working in groups gives farmers better access to services like market linkage and extension services (Mashapa et al, 2014b) and members' pool together scarce resources, own and manage the resources. Farmer groups could be learning laboratories promoting skills, e.g., enterprise management, problem solving as well as being a wealthy source of indigenous knowledge and skills.…”

“…Mutare Manica produce wholesalers, Mutare urban boarding schools, Mutare chain of supermarkets, Mutare urban food outlets, Mutare urban group of hospitals (Mashapa et al, 2014b).…”

“…The drastic effects of HIV/AIDS and the desire to mitigate the effects of the pandemic resulted in increased garden activities in both rural and urban areas. Most farmers in the urban areas now produce vegetables and field crops for domestic consumption and sale (Mashapa et al, 2014b).…”

“…In Zimbabwe, the current government land reform and resettlement is the opportunity for land use planning for urban agriculture while targeting the vulnerable urban farmers (Buckle, 2001;Moyo, 2011). Farm units close to towns and cities have the potential to operate intensive semi-or fully commercial farms to grow vegetables and other horticultural crops (Mashapa et al, 2014b), raise chicken and other small livestock, produce milk and eggs, and develop aquaculture fisheries. When carried out properly under safe conditions, this system of farming can contribute to food security by increasing quantity of food available and enhance the freshness of perishable foods on the urban market and offer opportunities for productive employment to the unemployed and vulnerable urban people.…”