Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba in Gweru
AGRICULTURE, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka has challenged farmers and agribusinesses to embrace value addition and beneficiation to improve the competitiveness of Zimbabwean produce and accelerate the country’s transition into an agro-industrial hub by 2030.
Dr Masuka made the call yesterday while officially opening the 101st edition of the Midlands Provincial Agricultural Show at the Gweru Show Grounds.
He said the longevity of the show, which was first held in 1925, reflected the resilience and enduring importance of agriculture to Zimbabwe’s economy.
“It is a privilege to join you at the Midlands Show 2026, being the 101st edition of the show which was first held in 1925. This is a testament to the enduring vision of its founders,” he said.
Dr Masuka said this year’s theme, “Value Addition: The Key to Competitiveness”, was aligned with the country’s long-term development aspirations under Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy II (AFSRTS 2).
“This theme is relevant, timely and is an appropriate reminder to all of us. The theme aligns with Vision 2030. The theme resonates with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
Furthermore, this is in sympathy with the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy II (AFSRTS 2),” he said.
Dr Masuka said agriculture remained a key driver of economic growth, noting that the economy grew by 8.3 percent last year, with agriculture recording a 27.9 percent growth and contributing 25 percent of the overall GDP growth in 2025.
He said AFSRTS 2 was anchored on several principles, including treating agriculture as a business regardless of scale, adopting climate-smart agriculture, embracing value chains and systems approaches, and positioning Zimbabwe as an agro-industrial hub rather than relying on the traditional breadbasket model.
The Minister said Zimbabwe had also made significant progress towards food security, particularly in wheat and dairy production.
He said the country had imported more than 80 percent of its annual wheat requirements in 2017, but was projecting another record harvest of 700 000 tonnes this year, up from 640 000 tonnes produced last year.
“Our milk production was a mere 67 million litres in 2017, yet last year we had 154 million litres and, from 2026, we should reach self-sufficiency,” he said.
Dr Masuka also highlighted increased processing capacity across several agricultural value chains.
In tobacco, processing capacity increased from two percent in 2017 to 11 percent in 2025, while the number of cigarette manufacturing companies increased from four to eight.
On the weather outlook, Dr Masuka said there was an 88 to 92 percent probability that the 2026/27 summer season would be affected by an El Niño weather pattern.
He, however, said the forecast should not cause alarm as Government had put in place a six-pillar response plan.
“This should not cause alarm because Government has a six-pillar plan including enhanced strategic grain reserve, enhanced climate-smart agriculture, integrated financing architecture, livestock drought mitigation, enhanced imports and integrated coordination, early warning systems and capacity building,” he said.
Dr Masuka also urged agricultural show societies to continuously review their business models, strengthen governance and professionalise their management structures.
“Now that CAA3 — our political expression of our developmental aspiration — is firmly behind us, we must turn our collective attention to the accelerated implementation of our transformative agricultural policies for the attainment of perennial food security and food sovereignty, for the attainment of Vision 2030 of becoming a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society, leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube commended the Government’s agricultural transformation agenda.
He said the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy was helping Zimbabwe transition from its traditional breadbasket role towards becoming an agro-industrial hub.
“In this regard, I commend the Second Republic under the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa, for transforming the agriculture sector through the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural
Transformation Strategy that seeks to transition Zimbabwe from its bread basket status into an agro-industrial hub of the region, bolstered by favourable climate, fertile soils, human capital, robust dam, power generation and road infrastructure development among several other enablers,” he said.
Minister Ncube said the agricultural show demonstrated the impact of the Land Reform Programme and urged exhibitors to use the platform to develop partnerships and identify markets.
“Today’s event underscores the positive impact of Zimbabwe’s empowering Land Reform Programme and resonates with the Second Republic’s desire and commitment towards food, feed, bio-oils and bio-fuel security and sovereignty.
“I therefore urge exhibitors here present to benchmark their operations, identify markets, share knowledge, develop business partnerships and unlock investment opportunities to accelerate rural industrialisation, employment generation and GDP growth,” he said.
