Staff Reporter  

In a significant development for the agricultural sector, Zimbabwe is set to emerge as one of the largest global exporters of chillies.

According to a source within the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development, this transformation is set to unfold following a groundbreaking agreement between Zimbabwean firm, Shumbatafari, and a leading Thailand-based supplier of chilli paste, Smit Food International.

“The deal with Shumbatafari entails contracting farmers to produce chillies for export to Thailand under a scalable multi-million dollar arrangement. This strategic partnership is expected to drive the production of chillies in Zimbabwe for global export, thereby stimulating economic growth and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” reviewed the source.

The source disclosed that the global market for dry chillies is experiencing substantial growth, with estimates indicating a surge from US$1.61 billion in 2024 to US$42.6 billion by 2029, at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.11 percent.

Currently, Zimbabwe predominantly exports chillies to South Africa, the Netherlands, and the United States. However, with this new agreement in place, Zimbabwe is positioned to rival the world’s largest chilli exporters, India and China,” added the source.

Furthermore, the source disclosed that the out-grower chilli production scheme in Zimbabwe would be complemented by investments in establishing a semi-processed chilli plant within the country.

“By investing in semi-processed chilli production, Zimbabwe is taking crucial steps towards value addition and diversification within the agricultural sector by expanding from the export of dried chillies to the production of fresh chillies,” noted the source.

Meanwhile, as Zimbabwe charts a course towards becoming a leading global exporter of chillies, stakeholders anticipate a transformative impact on the economy, driven by increased agricultural productivity, enhanced export earnings, and sustained economic growth.