Nyanga Downs, along with the country’s number one apple producer Claremont and the third largest Nyamagaya, account for the bulk of Zimbabwe’s apple output, which has steadily declined in the post-dollarisation period.
The three farms produced 6,000 tonnes in 2010, but production came in at 5,100 last year mainly due to poor maintenance of old orchards and lack of capital.
Zimbabwe’s peak apple production since 1961 when records were first kept, was 8,500 tonnes registered in 2006, according to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) data.
Before running into trouble in 2012, Nyanga Downs produced 1,600 tonnes of apples per season and employed 900 people. Production has since declined to 400 tonnes, while the staff compliment has dwindled to 70.
The 50 hectare eastern highlands farm, with assets valued at $1,7 million, also produces table potatoes, potato seed, timber and fish, is owned by Atrax Holdings, which is under reconstruction.
Apart from the farm, Atrax Holdings has seven subsidiaries, among them Village Inn Hotel in Nyanga, a milling and a petroleum company. The group’s assets are worth $3,5 million while liabilities stand at $1,4 million.
