Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
MAIZE deliveries to formal markets have more than doubled compared to the same period last year, reflecting a strong response by farmers to Zimbabwe’s bumper 2025/26 harvest and boosting prospects for national food security.
According to the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), maize deliveries between April 1 and July 24 reached 312 717 tonnes, representing a 106 percent increase from 152 047 tonnes recorded during the corresponding period last year.
The sharp rise comes as farmers continue delivering grain to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX) and other registered buyers.
In its latest Grains and Oilseeds Market Update, AMA said: “Maize deliveries more than doubled year-on-year!”
The authority added that “GMB, ZMX and registered buyers remain active outlets for delivery”.
The increase in maize deliveries is expected to strengthen Government’s efforts to build strategic grain reserves following another successful agricultural season.
The update also showed that deliveries of other strategic crops increased during the period under review.
Soyabean deliveries rose by 58 percent to 45 744 tonnes, up from 28 924 tonnes recorded during the same period last year.
Sorghum deliveries also registered positive growth, climbing 15 percent to 31 951 tonnes from 27 804 tonnes in 2025.
The increase in sorghum deliveries comes as Government continues promoting traditional grains as climate-smart crops suited to low-rainfall regions.
However, sunflower deliveries declined by 8 percent, falling to 5 181 tonnes from 5 631 tonnes recorded during the corresponding period last year.
The latest marketing figures underscore growing activity in Zimbabwe’s formal grain marketing system as producers continue delivering crops harvested during the 2025/26 summer cropping season.
The strong maize performance, in particular, is expected to support national food security while providing adequate supplies for household consumption, stockfeed manufacturing and industrial processing.
The AMA figures are contained in the authority’s grains and oilseeds market update for the period ending July 24, which tracks marketed volumes of major grain and oilseed commodities across the country’s registered marketing channels.
