Zambia has for the first time commenced the export of
lemon fruits to East African countries today.
This follows the granting of market access through the
Kenyan Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and the subsequent issuance
of phytosanitary requirements for citrus fruits from Zambia to Kenya.
Sunsweet Produce Limited of Mkushi District in Central
province shipped 25 metric tons of lemon fruits to Kenya as the first export to
that country.
Director in the department of Plant Quarantine and
Phytosanitary Service (PQPS) in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Kenneth Msiska
said a pre-export inspection and issuance of a Phytosanitary certificate was
conducted by his department to ensure compliance to the Kenyan regulations.
Dr. Msiska said more citrus fruits are expected to be
exported to Kenya and other East African countries as the harvest season
progresses.
He said Smallholder citrus producers who are
particularly growing Valencia, Naval oranges, Eureka and Lisbon lemon varieties
will have an opportunity to access the export markets through Sunsweet’s
aggregation and processing arrangements in Mkushi.
Dr. Msiska has also advised fruit producers in the
country to work closely with the Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service
(PQPS) in the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure they meet the export
requirements.
And Sunsweet Produce Limited
Chief Executive Officer Chris Morris said good agricultural policies that
government has put in place, are creating an enabling environment for Zambian
farmers to grow for export markets.
He
said exporting citrus fruits to other countries is the best route to take, if
the agriculture sector in Zambia is to attract foreign exchange and create
employment for the locals.
Morris
has urged small citrus producers in the country to work hand in hand with his
company to ensure that the supply of citrus fruits is sustainably export to the
market.
Last year, Zambia
exported citrus fruits especially oranges to Rwanda, Uganda and the United Arab
Emirates for the first time in the country’s history. NAIS
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