Online Reporter
Norest Ndawana
Correspondent
GOVERNMENT promulgated Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025 on September 5.
The regulations amend the Agricultural Marketing Authority (Grain, Oilseed and Products) Regulations of 2013 by inserting provisions that regulate of importation of grain, oilseed and related products.
The regulation has three key provisions. First, all processors are required to source at least 40 percent of their annual requirements of their grain, oilseed and products locally by April 2026 and 100 percent by April 2028.
Second, imports of grain, oilseed and products will only be allowed in times of need and restricted to contractors.
Third, if the import parity price exceeds the production parity price, the difference shall accrue to the Agricultural Revolving Fund.
The main objective of the regulations is to promote local production of grain, oilseed and related products thereby reducing imports of same.
Pursuant to the publication of the regulations, there has been mixed feelings from different sectors. It would appear that those in manufacturing and processing industry are opposed to this new law. The closure of Blue Ribbon worsened the perception. It is not clear as to whether the company closure was a result of the regulations or something different.
These are shocks associated with policy and law reforms. There is also a section that criticises for the sake of it. Lawyers have also availed various legal opinions on the legality of the new law. Farmers seem to be elated about this development.
I had the occasion to read Professor Gift Mugano’s article in the Sunday Mail issue of October 5, 2025, wherein he dubbed the new law “a master stroke”. The Professor of Economics went at length defending the regulations. I do not intend to repeat what the Professor already shared suffice to state that I fully align with his thoughts. I wish to add my voice as a commercial farmer.
All I can say is the regulations are a game-changer for the agricultural sector as it promotes local production, employment creation, protects local farmers, ensure food sovereignty and reduce the country’s import bill. I will try to work with facts and figures in my argument.
Agriculture is and remains the backbone of the economy. The sector contributes approximately 15 percent to Gross Domestic Products, 60 percent to the livelihood of the country’s population, 23 percent of formal employment, 63 percent of raw materials for the manufacturing sector and 30 percent of export earnings. The sector has strong backward and forward linkages that enhance the production value chain. Thus, the Government must be seen to be supporting this sector by coming up with policies, interventions and laws that support this important sector. The regulations are one of the interventions that will unlock agricultural production and productivity bringing Vision 2030 to a reality.
The land reform and redistribution program has been successful thus far, especially as far as controlling the means and modes of production by the descendants of this country is concerned. At independence, a total of 15.5 million hectares of land was in the hands of the white minority. To date, a total of 12 million hectares of land has been redistributed to 240 000 A1 farmers, 24 000 A2 farmers and 76 000 farmers under the old resettlement scheme.
Approximately a total of 2 million hectares has been bought by indigenous citizens. The conclusion I reach is that the land to do farming is abundantly available. The Government’ thrust now is to increase production and productivity on this land. The new law will undoubtedly benefit the country as it will unlock production as processors have no option but to partner those with land.
Zimbabwe does not only take pride in fertile land, but water as well. The country is the most dammed country in Southern Africa with more than 10 600 dams with potential to irrigate approximately 2 million hectares. Of course, I am not blind to natural shocks like droughts!
Currently, the country is utilising about 223 000 hectares only and has set the target to 400 000 hectares by 2030. With this new law, we can increase land under irrigation and even surpass the 2030 target. Chances of exporting surplus are high, thereby generating the much-needed foreign currency.
But how can we unlock production on our land? First, joint venture arrangements have been revolutionarising the agricultural sector since the birth of the Second Republic; transforming underutilised land into greenbelts. Currently, there are about 2 500 joint ventures that have been approved by Government.
Fungai Makoni, Tichaona Mapfotye and Ephraim Pasipanodya just to mention a few are some of the leading joint venture partners in the country; currently utilising over 1 000 hectares of land each under joint ventures. There are many others who are doing so.
The manufacturers and processors can take advantage of this intervention and partner those with land. Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries,Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Masuka is on record saying “you do not need to own land for you to do farming”. Some have argued that it is difficult to organise smallholder farmers. That is quite understandable.
However, there are already farmers who are partnering smallholder farmers. Tichaona Mapfotye for example is in a joint venture agreement with 72, 30, 40 and 40 small holder farmers at Musengi, Junction, Nyapi and Hilmoton farms respectively. Those who are afraid of partnering small holder farmers can partner with those who are already doing this, thereby reducing their risk.
Second, contract farming is another tried and tested model in the country. There are many corporates who have been doing this for some time now. Delta Corporation; a leading innovator in the beverage and agro-industrial sector for instance has been getting 100 percent of its barley and sorghum locally through contact farming.
Furthermore, the company contracts 40 percent of maize needs locally and when their stocks dry up, they source locally. It is only when they cannot get the produce locally that the company imports for its manufacturing and processing needs. Staywell Trading; a division of Origen Corporation (Pvt) Ltd has been contracting and selling to agro-processors. In the 2025/26 summer season, the company got 38 120, 12 360 and 33 600 metric tonnes of maize, soya beans and wheat respectively. I can go on and on! With this law in place, I foresee a jump to more than three-fold as the crop demand from agro-processors surges. Those already in the game like Staywell Trading will be the first beneficiaries as they already command respect in the market.
The country cannot be seen to be providing a market for yellow maize “kenya” for other countries in the region and beyond yet it boasts of fertile land, abundant water, human capital and conducive weather for farming. The country can serve more than US$4 billion dollars on imports.
Every citizen must support this law. I have observed some reservations coming from the legal fraternity on the shortcomings of the new law. One day when I peeped through the law school, I overhead Professor Lovemore Madhuku telling his students that there is more to life than the law. The regulations come at a time when government is reviewing taxes and levies in various sectors; a move that will undoubtedly lower the cost of production. The 2025/26 agricultural season is around the corner. Time to start preparations is now. Hands on the deck. Expectedly, the market has and will experience some shocks.
The cost of livestock feed has already gone up. The dust will certainly settle sooner rather than later. Kudos to Dr Masuka, Permanent Secretary Professor Jiri and their technical team for one of the best laws that promote local production. I just hope that the ministry will stick to its guns and not yield to pressures, especially from agro-processors and millers.
This painful decision has to be made.
Norest Ndawana is a commercial farmer in Raffingora Zimbabwe. He writes in his personal capacity.
