The horticulture industry has strong potential. However, access to affordable finance remains one of the biggest barriers to growth. Many farmers, especially smallholders and those investing in long-term crops, struggle to secure funding.
To address this, the HDC convened an Access to Finance Seminar, bringing together commercial banks, government, development partners and industry players. The goal was to find practical solutions to improve lending to the industry.
Discussions focused on why financing remains limited and what needs to change. Farmers spoke about key challenges, including a lack of suitable funding models and limited access to collateral. In turn, the banks laid out what they need from farmers for them to lend more confidently, such as stronger financial management, clear governance structures, and better risk mitigation.
The government also shared progress on the Horticulture Export Enhancement Programme (HEEP), which aims to support export-focused producers. The Zimbabwe Agricultural Development Trust (ZADT) presented its work in agricultural finance and opportunities for closer collaboration.
The seminar also reviewed findings from the 2024 Bankers Forum, helping track progress and identify remaining gaps.
Key outcomes are a commitment to stronger collaboration, clearer pathways to farmer bankability, and practical next steps to improve access to finance. HDC is working with partners to come up with the best and most innovative way to support growers. More such work is planned.
