The ManicaPost
Wimbainashe Zhakata Post Correspondent
DURING the first quarter of this year, Ecocert, which is one of the world’s most respected international certifications of organic products, will be in Chimanimani to certify pineapple farmers in Ndiadzo community.
Ecocert is an independent French body for organic inspection and certification which performs quality control by ensuring that all product specifications are strictly adhered to.
Recently, Zimbabwe’s Trade promotion body, Zimtrade, in conjunction with a Netherlands company had engaged in a pilot project to assist Chimanimani farmers to grow organic pineapples for export markets.
In an exclusive interview with The Manica Post Zimtrade chief executive Mr Allan Majuru confirmed the response by Chimanimani famers since last year.
He said “The project is still in progress. Through the year Zimtrade assisted in getting pineapple farmers ready for certification through monitoring and evaluating their farming systems in accordance with specific organic certification requirements,” he said.
Mr Majuru said soon the certifying team will be in Chimanimani to certify the pineapple farmers.
“In the first quarter of 2019 a team from Ecocert, the certifying body will be in Chimanimani to undertake the certifying process.
“We are quite confident with the progress and are looking forward to commence exporting this year,” he said.
Mr Majuru said Zimtrade assists both international and local organic farmers.
“We also facilitated various intervention programmes by both international and local organic farm experts. However, the Ndiyadzo pineappple farmers were very receptive and we managed to reach the major milestones set out in this project,” he said.
Ndiadzo community are farmers that are being developed for exports through ensuring that they get the Ecocert certification.
Upon attaining the certification, they would be eligible to export to the EU.
Zimtrade is a national trade body that develops and promotes companies, producers among others to be ready for export.
