World Report

Zambian roses are in high demand in Europe especially off season

orticulture is one of the fastest growing activities in the Zambian agricultural sector, making a significant contribution to non-traditional exports. Europe is the main market for Zambia’s flowers and vegetables, in particular the United Kingdom, and Holland, which account for 80 percent of the total exported. Most of the remainder goes to South Africa.

The Export Board of Zambia (EBZ) predicts that horticultural exports will lift off following the recent signing of an airfreight contract between the Zambia Export Growers Association (ZEGA) and Cargo Lux for the use of a Boeing 747-400 freighter plane to transport flowers and vegetables to Europe.

By boosting freight capacity, the deal will enable Zambia to take even greater advantage of the off-season market for vegetables from May to August and cut flowers from September to October.

ZEGA has been promoting Zambia as an attractive destination for local and foreign investment in horticulture. The introduction of an export credit scheme financed by the EU and World Bank has facilitated foreign investment. It is hoped to develop the horticultural sector through the expansion of existing projects and by establishing new ones.

Roses are Zambia’s dominant flower export, accounting for 95 percent of the floriculture industry, which employs more than 12,000 people. Of approximately 200 hectares given over to flower production, around 150 hectares are devoted to the cultivation of roses, with some 60 varieties being grown. Almost all the roses that Zambia exports end up in Holland.