Making Flower Exports Blossom Again.

[WillieeArmellini]

In this newsletter:
• Making Flower Exports Blossom Again.
• Horticulture in Zimbabwe getting ready for a strong comeback.
• Updated floor plan.
• Updated exhibitor list.
Show Hours:
Tuesday October 9
10:00 a.m. – 06:00 p.m.
Show Hours

Wednesday October 10
10:00 a.m. – 06:00 p.m.
Show Hours

Thursday October 11
10:00 a.m. – 04:00 p.m.
Show Hours.

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY FOR A FREE ENTRY BADGE*
http://www.hortiflorzimbabwe.com

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NEWSLETTER – JUNE – NUMBER 1

Making Flower Exports Blossom Again
Flower exports used to be, at the height of production, one of Zimbabwe’s biggest forex earners. By 2001, Zimbabwean flower exports ranked as the second largest in Africa, only behind Kenya. Zimbabwe was also the fifth biggest exporter to the European Union.
The flower growers and exporters in Zimbabwe were represented by a body protecting their interests, called EFGAZ (Export Flower Growers Association of Zimbabwe). Started in 1995, EFGAZ used to ensure that information on the latest floriculture trends were available to its members and levies on members provided training and information which protected the high standards required to retain the export market. The association closed in 2005.

EFGAZ Chairman Gorden Makoni:
“Zimbabwe has the perfect climate
and soil for cut-flower cultivation”
But, 13 years later, flower growers in Zimbabwe have resurrected the EFGAZ so they can, once again, have a single, unified lobbying voice to represent their interests at a national and international level once again.
Gorden Makoni, a flower grower from Juliasdale, went into flower production in 2014. He started growing a variety called Kangaroo Paw on two hectares and managed to find an export market for it in Japan. Climate-wise, Zimbabwe is perfect for this flower and Gorden has worked to establish himself as a successful
producer. He is one of three Kangaroo Paw growers in Africa and he is now looking to expand into growing Eryngium too. This venture has not been without its challenges, and one major challenge he faced was identifying potential markets.
Gorden, now chairman of EFGAZ, with Marondera farmer, Andrew Thompson, as his vice chairman, are looking to increase the numbers of member farmers. Currently the association is in its nascent stage, with 30 members, a tenth of what its membership used to be, but Gorden is passionate about unifying flower
farmers for their common good. He has thrown his energy into this and believes that flower growers can compete with other export sectors again, given a unified approach to latest market information. “EFGAZ will speak to potential importing countries to get to know what they want and will develop new markets as well as reinforcing ties with existing ones. We need to create as many avenues as possible,” says Gorden. “We have to support our members with technology and markets”.
Zambian flower growers export 12-17 tons of flowers to the European market daily, and former Zimbabwean flower growers are contributing to this. Apart from job creation, this export is bringing Zambia valuable forex. Gorden wants former and new flower growers on the land, represented by their association, bringing Zimbabwe’s flower exports back to where they used to be.
Source: Zimunda Farming Magazine, By Julie Havercroft.
Photograph: Gorden Makoni

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Horticulture in Zimbabwe getting ready for a strong comeback
Harare, Thursday June 21, 2018. The horticulture industry of Zimbabwe is making serious preparations to put itself on the map again as a major exporter of horticulture products. The recent taken initiative to revive EFGAZ, the Exporters Flower Growers Association of Zimbabwe is only one example that shows the commitment that Zimbabwe is making to become again one the biggest exporters of vegetables, fruits and flowers of Africa. A position it had until the end of the nineties, when Zimbabwe was the 2nd largest African exporter of horticulture products.
The newly initiated international horticulture & floriculture trade fair ”HortiFlor Zimbabwe”, which will be held this coming October in the Rainbow Convention Center in Harare, is another example of the commitment of the Zimbabwean horticulture industry to get exports back on track. From October 9 to 11 (inter)national growers, exporters, suppliers and investors will meet during this 3 day trade event, with the purpose of increasing production and exports of fresh produce & cut flowers.

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DOWNLOAD THE UPDATED FLOOR PLAN: Click here

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EXHIBITORS 2018
# Company Country Booth
1 160 Hydro Farm Zimbabwe A7.11
2 Agrisys B.V. Netherlands A3.05
3 Ball Straathof South Africa A7.07
4 Coldiron Pbc Zimbabwe A6.11
5 Export Flowers Growers Association of Zimbabwe (EFGAZ) Zimbabwe A1.05
6 Freshflora (Pvt) Ltd. Zimbabwe A.09
7 FX Logistics – Q7 Air Cargo – Tiger Freight Limited Zimbabwe A1.01
8 Greencon Greenhouse Supplies Zimbabwe A6.06
9 Kordes Roses Germany A2.06
10 Luxaflor Roses (Pvt) Ltd. Zimbabwe A2.08
11 Meilland International France A2.01
12 Prime Seeds Zimbabwe A2.05
13 Regent Farms Zimbabwe A6.05
14 UFO Netherlands A4.05
15 United Selections Netherlands A3.11
16 VERMAKO Belgium A2.11
17 Zimflex Zimbabwe A3.06

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