Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
Zimbabwe cut maize imports by 34 percent in the 2025/26 agriculture season, reaping the benefits of increased local production and its import substitution drive.
According to the second round of the Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment Report (CLAFA-2) 2026, maize production increased by two percent from 2,29 million tonnes in the 2024/2025 season to 2,35 million tonnes in the 2025/2026 season.
This comes as the Government adopted a raft of measures to revive agricultural production after the debilitating effects of the El Niño drought of 2024, wherein it allowed duty-free imports of grain to ensure food self-sufficiency.
Riding on last year’s feat of saving US$159 million in maize imports, the country has continued its streak by saving an additional US$94 million so far this year.
Statistics released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), show that maize imports declined from US$277,451 million between January and July 2025 to US$183,598 million in the comparable period this year.
In volume terms, maize imports dropped 16 percent from 667 last year to 563 tonnes this year, while the average price declined 22 percent from US$0,42 to US$0,33 per kg.
The Government enacted Statutory Instrument (SI) 87 of 2025 (CAP. 18:24), Agricultural Marketing Authority (Grain, Oilseed and Products) (Amendment) Regulations (No. 2), last year, to govern the import of grains and oilseed products as well as encourage local production.
Under SI 87, grain buyers and agro-processors are required to procure a minimum of 40 percent of their grain requirements from the local market to qualify for imports of up to 60 percent of their requirements.
An import levy was recently slashed from US$40 to US$15 per tonne of maize for companies complying with the policy requirement to source at least 40 percent of the maize locally.
Meanwhile, the AMA market update report dated September 04 disclosed that maize intake by grain buyers had risen 125 percent from 200 160 tonnes to 449 399 tonnes so far this year.
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has recorded the highest purchase growth rate of 338 percent, from 33 037 to 144 584 tonnes this year, as farmers welcome timely payments this year.
This was followed by the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX), whose purchases increased 117 percent from 11 307 to 24 576 tonnes.
Other private buyers’ purchases rose 80 percent from 155 816 to 280 240 tonnes.
White maize is an important strategic crop widely grown by smallholder farmers and is the national staple food.
It is a source of livelihood for over three million people and a significant contributor to the manufacturing industry’s raw material requirements.
