Theseus Mauruki Shambare
GOVERNMENT has opened a duty-free import window for 450 000 tonnes of basal and top-dressing fertiliser to bridge supply gaps ahead of the 2026/27 summer cropping season, as farmers race to secure inputs before the onset of effective rains.
The intervention will facilitate the importation of 200 000 tonnes of basal fertiliser and 250 000 tonnes of top-dressing fertiliser against a national requirement of 780 000 tonnes, as Government moves to improve availability amid forecasts of below-normal rainfall associated with a projected strong El Niño.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said fertiliser was reaching Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots, although distribution to wards remained a challenge.
“On fertiliser, the national requirement for basal and top dressing is 780 000 tonnes. While inputs are reaching GMB depots, the movement to wards has been slow but is gradually gaining momentum,” he said in an interview.
Prof Jiri said available supplies remained significantly below national requirements, with 13 000 tonnes of Compound D available against a requirement of 60 000 tonnes, while top-dressing deliveries had reached between 40 and 50 percent of requirements.
“To meet the gap, Government has opened duty-free imports of 200 000 tonnes of basal and 250 000 tonnes of top-dressing fertiliser,” he said.
Treasury has released US$10 million to settle outstanding payments and accelerate agricultural input deliveries, with Government prioritising the movement of supplies from depots to wards to improve farmers’ access.
Prof Jiri said farmers who had completed their Pfumvudza/Intwasa potholing were being prioritised under the distribution programme, which was launched nationally on October 9, 2026.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe welcomed the intervention, saying the suspension of import duty could lower fertiliser prices and ease the financial burden on farmers preparing for the cropping season.
“Suspension of duty on fertiliser will help lower the retail price of the commodity and make it more affordable for farmers to purchase and use. This can have a positive impact on agricultural productivity and potentially increase crop yields,” he said.
Dr Makombe urged farmers to pool resources and take advantage of the import window, while exercising caution when sourcing fertiliser to ensure they prioritised quality rather than being tempted by cheaper, potentially substandard products.
“Farmers now need to pool their resources together and make use of that window to import. However, farmers should also be careful when purchasing to avoid cheap things but go for quality,” he said.
He said improved access to affordable fertiliser could encourage farmers to apply adequate quantities to their crops, boosting agricultural production and strengthening national food security.
Dr Makombe added that the intervention could stimulate investment in the fertiliser industry and related sectors, creating employment opportunities while contributing to wider economic growth.
The intervention comes as Zimbabwe prepares for a cropping season forecast to experience below-normal rainfall and warmer-than-normal temperatures, placing greater emphasis on timely planting and efficient management of available inputs.
Prof Jiri said farmers had been advised to target December as the main planting window, guided by effective rainfall of between 20 and 40 millimetres rather than planting in response to isolated early showers.
Government has also restructured the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, incorporating full liming and a 50 percent reduction in fertiliser application, complemented by manure, compost and foliar feeds as part of efforts to improve soil health and moisture retention.
