Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
The European union (EU) has intensified efforts to boost Zimbabwe’s agricultural productivity through renewable energy solutions, with a major conference set to bring together key stakeholders in Harare.
In a statement, the EU said it will co-host the Renewable Energy for Agriculture (RE4Agri) Conference from June 16 to 18 alongside GET.invest Zimbabwe and the Renewable Energy Association of Zimbabwe (REAZ).
“The event is designed to advance the deployment of renewable energy across Zimbabwe’s agricultural value chain and will bring together over 250 delegates from the energy, agriculture, government and development finance sectors,” reads the statement.
Agriculture remains a critical pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing about 17 percent to gross domestic product and employing more than half of the population.
However, the sector continues to face energy challenges.
“Yet the sector remains constrained by unpredictable grid power, forcing reliance on costly diesel generation that limits both productivity and profitability,” reads the statement.
The RE4Agri Conference seeks to tackle these challenges by fostering collaboration among energy players, farmers, financiers and policymakers to unlock practical and bankable solutions.
Zimbabwe is endowed with vast renewable energy resources, including solar, hydropower and biomass potential derived from agricultural waste.
“With the costs of renewable energy continuing to fall and with growing global momentum to decarbonise agri-value chains, the conditions for action are increasingly favourable,” reads the statement.
The three-day conference will feature thematic sessions, project matchmaking and exhibitions of investment-ready renewable energy projects. Delegates will also undertake site visits to observe practical applications of clean energy in agriculture.
The event will also mark the official launch of the GET.Invest Country Window in Zimbabwe, a programme funded by the EU and Germany aimed at mobilising investment in clean energy projects.
The EU, through its “Team Europe” approach, has invested over €500 million in Zimbabwe, focusing on sustainable agriculture, economic growth and climate resilience.
