Zambia’s economy remains predominantly agricultural, with roughly 85% of its informal labor force working the land scirp.org. In recent years the government and private investors have pushed beyond maize into export crops. High-value fruits, vegetables and flowers once earned Zambia its largest foreign exchange revenues scirp.org. Today, support programs and trade facilitation have enabled new exports – for example Zambia now ships blueberries (and avocados) to markets like China and South Africa under upgraded phytosanitary standards trade4devnews.enhancedif.org. President Hichilema has hailed such moves, saying “farming is not just a way of life; it is a business that can drive our economy forward,” as the country opens up new markets lusakatimes.com. Industry observers note this strategy is capital-intensive – one banker points out that establishing just one hectare of blueberry orchard can cost about US$100,000 solwezitoday.com – yet institutions like Absa Bank are backing the sector as a growth area. As Absa’s agribusiness head explained, Zambia is supporting “trending crops” capable of bringing in foreign exchange to the country solwezitoday.com.
Zamberries: Innovating Blueberry Cultivation
At Zamberries, a Kager International-operated farm, growers apply modern, “high-tech” methods tailored to blueberries. For irrigation they use drip systems that deliver water (and dissolved fertilizers) directly to the shrubs’ shallow roots, maximizing efficiency and avoiding waterlogging netafimusa.com. The blueberry bushes are planted in well-drained beds mulched with organic matter to maintain the acidic, moisture-retaining soil conditions these plants require. Harvesting is mostly by hand: only fully ripe (deep-blue) berries are gently picked extension.uga.edu to ensure peak flavor and minimal bruising, then the fruit is rapidly cooled to preserve quality. Integrated pest management is strictly enforced: workers maintain orchard hygiene, remove any rot or debris, and use pheromone traps or approved biological controls for insects like fruit flies, all in line with stringent export quarantine requirements foodgacc.comfoodgacc.com. These practices show how Zamberries combines sustainability with precision farming to produce top-quality fruit for export.
Global Market Trends and Outlook
Worldwide demand for blueberries is soaring. Current global production (~1.86 million tonnes) must roughly double in the next 5–10 years to keep up with growing consumption producereport.com. Import volumes have climbed over 200% since 2016, and recent shortages (for example Peru’s 23% output drop) have driven prices to record highs (average ~$7.01/kg in 2023) stories.agronometrics.com. Consumption is expanding fastest in Asia, though Europe and North America remain major markets producereport.com. For instance, China – a newly opened market for Zambian berries – imported about 43,000 tonnes of fresh blueberries in 2022 lusakatimes.com. This robust global appetite (fueled by health and convenience trends) creates a lucrative opportunity for growers worldwide. Zambia’s new blueberry farms like Zamberries are positioning to serve these markets: with higher prices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, each kilo of Zambian blueberry can command premium value abroad.
Innovation, Investment and Impact
Zamberries is seen as a model of Zambia’s agricultural transformation. Government leaders note that expanding blueberry farming fits “in line with the government’s agenda to promote diversification” of the sector, and have urged other companies to plant similarly high-value crops blueberriesconsulting.com. Investors agree this sector can power rural economies: Absa Bank observes that blueberry exports “are bringing in foreign exchange to the country and… employing a lot of Zambians” solwezitoday.com. In short, by adopting advanced irrigation, soil management and pest-control techniques, Zamberries exemplifies sustainable, market-focused farming. Its success not only earns Zambia much-needed export revenue, but – as one analyst noted – “opens doors for Zambian blueberry farmers” and “sets a precedent” for other crops to reach global markets lusakatimes.com. In challenging times, such innovation is proving a resilient path forward for Zambian agriculture.