Market News

LOCAL horticultural firms are set to have wider access to export markets after Del Monte Produce, one of the world's leading vertically integrated producers, marketers and distributors of horticultural products expressed interest in the local fresh produce.
Del Monte Produce, a US agribusiness firm based in California with branches in Dubai, the UAE, is one of the companies visited by a Zimbabwean delegation at the Dubai Expo in October last year.
Following the visit, Del Monte is now engaging local companies for the export of oranges, blueberries and other products, with high hopes that the country could benefit from better prices for its produce.
Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza told The Herald Finance and Business this week Del Monte Produce was also working with ZimTrade to subcontract local companies through providing appropriate seed for guaranteed product quality.
"In order to help in the actualization of value chain development in the country, the Ministry of Industry took advantage of the global forum to sell the Zimbabwean brand," said Dr Nzenza.
"One such visit was to the United Arab Emirates, where we took advantage of the visit to engage with companies who are doing business with the country and those not yet doing so through various interventions."
Del Monte is also the leading producer and distributor of prepared food across the globe.
During the third quarter to October 2021, Del Montes' net sales increased to US$1 billion compared with US$989,7 million in the prior-year period. Net sales for the first nine months of 2021 were almost flat at US$3,2 billion compared with the same period in 2020.
The firm's gross profit for the third quarter decreased to about US$48,9 million compared with US$67,3 million in the prior-year period while gross profit for the first nine months of 2021 increased to US$264 million compared with US$214,5 million in the same prior-year period
Dr Nzenza said the Government had also engaged Ali Gholami, one of the leading companies in fresh fruits and vegetables in the UAE. The firm specializes in the procurement and supply of a wide variety of fresh products into the Gulf region.
Following the visit, ZimTrade is also facilitating the export of fruits such as banana, strawberries, blueberries, watermelons, pears, avocados, mangoes, grapes, pineapples vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, green peas, green beans, onions okra and mushroom to the UAE.
The five-year contract signed between Ali Gholami and a local company, Eden Chase Zimbabwe for the supply of various products such as lettuce, strawberries, blueberries and peas is also being revived.
"Under the value chains development framework as contained in the National Development Strategy 1, agro-processing companies in the country can take advantage of good climate conditions in the country, to increase horticultural products production, and thereby increasing the market share with the continent under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area framework," said Dr Nzenza.
Source: The Herald

Africa's medicinal cannabis market will be worth $7.1 billion by 2023.
Morocco legalized the product last year with the "illegal" cannabis industry exporting US$13 billion worth of pot to Europe annually.
Discussions about cannabis as a cure of the Coronavirus, though not backed by any science, have gained foot, with some promoting the plant to combat some effects of the virus.
Intadose Pharma, a Canadian-based corporation, completed a record Shipment of medicinal cannabis weighing 2.125 tonnes from South Africa to North Macedonia on December 25, 2021.
According to Phobition Partners, a research and consultation firm that deals in the legal cannabis industry, Africa's medicinal cannabis market will be worth US$7.1 billion by 2023. Cannabis is the world's most cultivated drug.
Africa's hunger to exploit the cannabis market is accelerating because of the much-needed revenue and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussions about cannabis as a cure of the Corona Virus, though not backed up by any science, have gained foot, with some promoting the plant to combat some effects of the virus.
In June 2020, South Africa got the trial of marijuana off the ground as part of the six herbs that could effectively fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
A 2020 report by the research firm estimates that the marijuana market will be based majorly in the following five countries. Market size would generate as follows if the required legislations take effect: Nigeria (US$3.7 billion), South Africa (US$1.7 billion), Morocco (US$900 million), Lesotho (US$90 million), and Zimbabwe (US$80 million).
The co-founder and CEO of the Africa Cannabis Advisory Group, Sibusiso Xaba, said that he had experienced the most significant recent developments in South Africa, projecting that the market in the country will be the largest by revenue.
Xaba reported that Africa exported over 15 tonnes of legal cannabis to the rest of the world in 2021, a tenfold increase from 2020.
Challenges facing legal cannabis farming in Africa
Morality laws. Governments arrest many plant farmers who cultivate, sell, and consume cannabis in most African countries.
In most African countries, the consumption of marijuana goes against religion. In a country estimated to have 2.6 million users of cannabis, the first lady of Uganda, Jane Museveni, and a section of cabinet secretaries have opposed legalizing the product terming it as "satanic" and ruinous to the future of the youth in Africa.
There has been stigmatization and a negative public perception of marijuana. Most people believe that Marijuana consumption slows down the brain's thinking capacity, which demotivates farming of the product.
There is insufficient knowledge about the industry by most governments in Africa.
Investors to support cannabis farming are scarce. Most investors have been discouraged by the legal restrictions placed by most African countries barring the cultivation and selling of the product.
Despite the regulations and legal concerns in the country, the progress in South Africa is gathering the hype. The government has allowed commercially restricted hemp farming, a botanical class of cannabis that contains less THC (the psychoactive compound that causes the "high" effect).
As governments across Africa change their approach to embracing the product's farming, they are making multi-million-dollar investments in the sector.
On June 3, 2020, Goodleaf, one of South Africa's pioneer brands of commercial cannabis, merged with Highlands investments from Lesotho, the first country to legalize marijuana in Africa, in a deal valued at about US$45.2 million.
Morocco legalized the product last year. Reports show that the "illegal" cannabis industry exported 13 billion worth of pot to Europe annually and employed over 1 million people despite the plant being illegal.
By improving regulations and legal frameworks, countries located along the equator have an immense potential to contribute to Cannabis innovations for the production of medicine, paper, eco-bricks, and plastics.
Nqobile Bundwini, a lecturer at the University of Cape Town, says that cannabis can revive South Africa's ailing economy.
"South Africa tends to lag behind and not use its rich resources optimally. And if we don't, we will get left behind in a situation where we should be the pioneers and leading from the front," Nqobile said.
Source: The Exchange

Agriculture and Irrigation minister Lobin Lowe has assured Malawians not to panic about food shortage in the country as there is enough food reserves to feed the South-eastern impoverished nation.
The ministry says the updated Malawi food balance sheet indicate that Malawi has 1,693,997 Metric tonnes (MT) of maize.
Speaking during a press briefing in Malawi's capital, Lilongwe Monday Lowe said Malawi maize requirement for the next three months (January to March) is projected at 861 868 Metric tonnes of maize.
Lowe said: "As a country, there is 915, 998 metric tonnes of maize surplus and he updated national Food Balance Sheet (FBS) compilation as of 31st December 2021 shows that the country has a total supply of 1,693,997 metric tonnes.
"The total maize requirement for the three months, from annually to March 2022, is projected at 861, 868 metric tonnes."
The minister said that the reported maize surplus is not only the stock under the custody of government; it also comprises of stocks held by different stakeholders including farmers and private traders.
"Out of this estimated maize surplus, official maize stocks held by government institutions, the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) and ADMARC Limited, stood at 265,253 metric tonnes as of December 31, 2021."
Lowe said the food balance sheet projection, the country remains stable in terms of maize availability.
"This is further supported by the prevailing market prices which have remained stable during the past three months and even as the country is in the lean period during which so far ADMARC sales stand at only 37 metric tonnes since opening their selling season," he said.
On maize price Lowe said the Ministry of Agriculture's maize price surveillance system shows the current maize national
average price for the month of December 2021 was MK152.99 per kilogram as compared to MK200 per kilogram in December 2020.
Lowe said this shows that the prices remain stable over the period when demand for maize traditionally increases.
"On the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) 2021 Annual Assessment report, which projected over 1.6 million to be food insecure during the 2021/2022 consumption year," Lowe said.
Government has already released about 17,000 metric tons of maize to be distributed to the affected households as humanitarian food while on the other hand, ADMARC markets are open for those who need to access the affordable maize.
"I would like to assure the country that we have enough maize stocks for every Malawian and that the country is food secure,” said Lowe.
In his remarks ADMARC Chief Executive Officer Rhino Chiphiko said the maize available at the moment is within the area where they were bought.
Chiphiko assured Malawians not to worry about food shortage as they the country has food surplus in stock.
Source Nyasa Times