Zimbabwean blueberry farmers are racing to capitalise on a newly opened Chinese market following a phytosanitary agreement and Beijing's removal of tariffs on imports from 53 African countries in May, but a chronic shortage of affordable financing is limiting their ability to scale up. Forrester Estates, a farm roughly 100 kilometres north of Harare, wants to more than double its planting area to 50 hectares, yet each new hectare requires an upfront investment of $50,000–$55,000 — costs that are prohibitive given Zimbabwe's scarce foreign exchange and high domestic interest rates. Zimbabwe is already Africa's third-largest blueberry producer, expecting to export around 12,000 tonnes this year, and industry leaders say attracting foreign direct investment and patient capital will be essential if the sector is to fulfil its potential as a healthier, long-term alternative to tobacco — the country's dominant agricultural export for over a century.