Harare – Two farms owned by the Netherlands government under the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPA) arrangement are producing blueberries and mandarins for European market, the Dutch embassy has said.
”Our team recently had a FRUITFUL visit to two Dutch BIPPA farms, where we got a first-hand look at the production of premium blueberries 🫐 and mandarins 🍊destined for the Netherlands and the wider European market,” the Dutch Embassy posted on Facebook.
”One thing became very clear: behind every piece of fruit is an incredible amount of expertise, innovation, and dedication. It’s inspiring to see how Dutch agricultural knowledge and Zimbabwe’s ideal growing conditions combine to produce world-class horticultural products.”
The Embassy said the Netherlands is the main gateway for Zimbabwean horticultural exports into Europe, with much of the country’s fresh produce entering the EU through Dutch ports and distribution networks.
It said the blueberry and mandarin produce is a great example of international collaboration that creates opportunities, supporting local employment, productivity and income, while delivering exceptional produce to consumers across Europe.
The farms were under threat during the land reform programmes fronted by former president Robert Mugabe in the early 2000s. Some of the farms were grabbed while others were sparred.
The Zimbabwe government under the so called Second Republic under President Emmerson Mnangagwa has vowed to give back 67 farms which were under BIPPA expropriated during the violent land reforms.