Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
ZIMBABWE’S push to grow more of its own food is yielding tangible results, with the country saving a combined US$200 million in maize imports over the past year—US$159 million in 2025 and an additional US$44 million in January 2026 alone.
The savings come on the back of a sharp decline in foreign maize purchases, driven by a bumper domestic harvest and a deliberate Government strategy to accelerate import substitution following the devastating El Niño drought of 2024.
According to data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats), the value of maize imports fell by 26 percent to US$443 million in 2025, down from US$603 million the previous year. In volume terms, imports dropped 32 percent to 1.1 million tonnes. The trend accelerated in January 2026, with import values plummeting 59 percent to US$30 million compared to the same month in 2025.
The recovery was no accident. After the 2023/24 drought left grain stocks depleted, Government launched a coordinated response through the El Niño Drought Action Committee (DAC), bringing together ministries, academics, the private sector, and development partners. The committee focused on immediate relief while laying the groundwork for long-term resilience.
Key measures included duty-free private-sector imports to stabilise stocks, climate-proofing of farming methods and the introduction of agro-ecological tailoring under the Presidential Input Programme (PIP).
Farmers in regions better suited to maize were required to plant more maize plots, while those in drier regions adjusted accordingly. Pre-planting producer prices were also announced early to attract investment and guide planning.
The strategy paid off. A comprehensive post-harvest survey conducted between August and September 2025 found total cereal production reached 2.2 million tonnes, of which 1.8 million tonnes was maize. At the time of the survey, one million tonnes of maize were still in stock—nearly 59 percent of the total harvest.
With the local harvest proving sufficient, Government temporarily suspended maize imports to prioritise purchases from domestic farmers, a move later formalised under Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025.
Agriculture expert and Livestock and Meat Advisory Council executive administrator Dr Reneth Mano said the bulk of the harvest came from rain-fed fields, with deliveries to the commercial market peaking from mid-July to end of August. He noted that there were no carryover stocks from the drought-hit 2023/24 season, and that many smallholder farmers held back grain for security.
“Smallholder communal and resettled A1 farmers are estimated to retain 1.4 million tonnes of their maize harvest for family consumption and as a post-drought risk aversion strategy, to guarantee household food security through June 2026/27,” Dr Mano said.
