Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
PARLIAMENT has proposed increasing funding for the Ministry of Agriculture from ZiG21,2 billion to ZiG33 billion in the 2027 National Budget, as the sector faces a massive resource shortfall threatening food security, climate resilience and agricultural productivity.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Portfolio Committee chairperson Felix Maburutse said the proposed allocation would help strengthen priority agricultural programmes and move Zimbabwe closer to the Maputo Declaration commitment of allocating at least 10 percent of public expenditure to agriculture.
The committee made the recommendations during the ongoing 2027 Pre-Budget Seminar in Bulawayo indicating the need for realistic budget allocations, timely funding releases and a stronger focus on productive expenditure.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resource Development submitted a budget bid of ZiG254,85 billion against available resources of approximately ZiG21,215 billion, leaving a funding gap of ZiG233,41 billion.
This means only 8,3 percent of the ministry’s requested budget is funded, exposing the scale of competing demands facing Government as it prepares the 2027 National Budget, he said.
The committee said the ministry’s bid, while capable of supporting its planned targets, was unrealistic under the prevailing fiscal conditions.
“The committee recognized that the Ministry of Agriculture’s Zig 254.856 billion budget bid could support its planned targets, but not that the request represents approximately 76.7% of the expected 2027 national budget and is unrealistic in the prevailing fiscal context.”
The committee proposed increasing the ministry’s allocation to ZiG33 billion from the available ZiG21,215 billion.
“Given the resource constraints, the committee proposes increasing the ministry’s allocation from Zig 21.215 billion to 33 billion.
“This proposal is intended to strengthen priority agriculture programs and support progress towards the Maputo Declaration commitment to allocate at least 10% of the public expenditure to agriculture,” he said.
The committee called for prioritisation of productive expenditure, including irrigation development, extension services, mechanisation, land surveying and tenure documentation.
It also urged Government to reduce non-essential administrative spending and redirect resources towards frontline services and projects with clear developmental impact.
“The committee recommends prioritizing productive expenditure, including irrigation, extension services, personal services, mechanization, land surveying, and tenure documentation.
“Non-essential administrative expenditures should be reduced and the available resources redirected towards frontline services and the projects with the clear developmental impacts.”
The committee also emphasised the need to improve budget execution through quarterly reporting on expenditure and physical outputs, strengthened internal controls and prompt corrective action where utilisation falls below planned levels.
The approach, he said, would reduce waste, improve value for money and strengthen public accountability.
Pfumvudza-Intwasa was identified as a key priority for 2027, with the committee calling for deployment of suitable mechanised planting, land preparation and conservation agriculture equipment to support smallholder farmers.
The committee also called for the expansion of local markets for cereals, particularly sorghum and finger millet, through structured buyer-producer linkages, investment in aggregation and storage centres, and contract farming arrangements linking farmers to millers and processors.
It said value addition, quality standards, branding and market information would help reduce post-harvest losses, increase farm incomes and strengthen agricultural value chains.
The Ministry of Lands and Rural Development also faces funding constraints, having submitted a ZiG17,71 billion budget bid against a funding gap of ZiG15,91 billion.
The committee said the two ministries should retain distinct budgets while coordinating initiatives that deliver shared benefits to farmers and rural communities.
“The proposed 2027 budget should be realistic, prioritizing and backed by credible funding and timely releases.
The committee called for measurable physical and financial targets, transparent quarterly monitoring and greater emphasis on completed projects, farmer productivity, value addition, climate resilience, secure tenure and rural livelihoods.
Strategic alignment, stakeholder support and demonstrable impact should guide the final 2027 budget allocation, the committee said.
