Online Reporter
Business Reporter
STAKEHOLDERS across Zimbabwe’s agricultural, financial and industrial sectors will gather next month for the two-day National Agriculture Conference and Expo (NACE) 2026, aimed at accelerating domestic food security, climate resilience and export competitiveness.
The high-level event is being organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development in partnership with the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) and regional development think tank Africa Economic Development Strategies (AEDS) as the official research partner.
Held under the theme, “Transforming Agriculture for Resilience, Investment and Inclusive Growth,” the conference —scheduled for September 17–18, 2026, at the University of Zimbabwe’s Diamond Conference Centre—will address critical bottlenecks across the country’s agro-value chains.
The indaba will evaluate long-term strategies to position Zimbabwe as a primary regional food hub.
Conceived as a strategic interface between Government agencies, private enterprise, development partners and research institutions, the conference moves beyond general dialogue, delving into concrete implementation pathways under the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS-2).
A major highlight of the summit will be the official launch of the Agricultural Investment Prospectus, designed to showcase bankable opportunities across priority value chains and infrastructure while offering a structured pipeline for domestic and international investors.
In addition, researchers will present the State of the Agricultural Sector Study, delivering an evidence-based assessment of sector performance, emerging risks, and market trends to guide national policy decisions.
Organisers emphasise that the platform will facilitate direct public-private dialogue to eliminate regulatory constraints, align public resource mobilization behind the 2026–2030 transformation agenda, and firmly position Zimbabwe as an investment-ready agricultural economy.
Initial sessions will examine how shifting global geopolitical dynamics impact international commodity markets, establishing a foundation for policy discussions on domestic food security.
Delegates will evaluate strategies to maximise agricultural potential and resolve operational constraints across key crop sub-sectors, including grains, oilseeds, sugar, and poultry.
Discussions will also centre on the future trajectory of Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector, focusing on methods to align with evolving global market demands while advancing environmental sustainability and equitable growth for local producers.
Recognising that primary production relies heavily on supporting utilities, the conference will feature dedicated sessions on foundational agricultural infrastructure.
Delegates will analyse strategies to secure reliable, cost-effective power generation necessary to sustain farm operations and industrial processing plants.
Special attention will be given to the expansion of smart water management infrastructure and modern irrigation networks designed to mitigate persistent drought conditions.
Participants will also explore upgrades to road, rail, aviation, and warehousing networks aimed at streamlining logistics, lowering transit costs and curbing post-harvest losses.
