Zimbabwe has one of the best soils, climate and altitude that supports high-grade horticulture production. The main export vegetables grown in Zimbabwe are peas, fine beans, blueberry and chillies representing 40%, 20%, 35% and 5% of exports respectively.

Lingflora Pvt Ltd is one of the leading firms exporting horticultural products from Zimbabwe to the European Union. It mainly produces beans (green and fine) and peas but also tomatoes, potatoes, many varieties of flowers, avocadoes, chilies, yellow citrus fruits and maize.

Key facts about Lingflora Pvt Ltd:

• Founded in 2018
• Based in Gweru, Zimbabwe
• Produces around 400 tonnes of peas yearly
• Peas represent 40% of its exports
• More than 40% of its total exports goes to the European Union (Belgium, Germany and Netherlands)

Company profile:

Lingflora Pvt Ltd is a family-owned business specialising in vegetable production in central Zimbabwe. The farm has a mixed farming approach involving dairy farming and crop production and sits on about 450 hectares of land, of which half is arable. The farm grows tomatoes, potatoes, many varieties of flowers, avocadoes, maize, chillies, yellow citrus fruits, peas and green and fine beans. Products are harvested fresh from the field then taken into the grading and packaging process as per customer specifications in the grading shed.

The main products exported to the EU are flowers, peas and fine beans (mainly to the Netherlands and Germany). The company is Global Good Agricultural Practice (GlobalGAP) certified. 70% of products are exported directly to the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom and 30% are exported using ZimFlex, a leading exporter and supplier of fresh produce and cut flowers in Zimbabwe.

The company is collaborating with 200 smallholder farmers through an outgrower scheme.  It trained the farmers, provided them technical assistance in their rural farms and support in the marketing of their products. The farmers were able to generate a decent income at the end of the season. The company plans to expand the programme to include at least 1000 smallholder farmers in their outgrower scheme by 2024 and diversify to other products such as citrus and flowers.

Main achievements over the years:

• 150 employees at creation and 350 in 2022
• Was able to recruit 200 smallholder farmers, train them, provide technical assistance and support in  marketing their products

How did the EPA help?

According to the Managing Director of Lingflora Pvt Ltd, Mr Tatenda Karimazondo, the exports to the EU allowed the Company to expand and to more than double their staff.

"Our exports to the EU allowed expanding the company and doubling its outgower scheme in just 4 years! As the EPA guarantees Zimbabwe full and continued access to the EU market, it also paves the way to rethink our strategy towards diversification of our products"

Lingflora Pvt Ltd

Mr Tantenda Karimazondo, Managing Director