Online Reporter
Anashe Mpamombe
AGRICULTURE remains a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development. It is not just a source of food, but a provider of employment, foreign exchange, and raw materials for industry. With nearly 70 percent of the population directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture, transforming this sector is no longer optional, it is imperative.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has taken a bold step in steering this transformation through the Zimbabwe Legacy Programme, also known as the Zimbabwe Programme for Agricultural Transformation (ZIPAT). This visionary initiative provides a structured, forward-looking roadmap aimed at unlocking the full potential of the agricultural sector and catalysing national economic growth.
At the centre of this transformation is the Government’s unwavering commitment to building a modernised, inclusive, and market-oriented agriculture sector that is food, feed, oil, and fibre secure.
The Zimbabwe Legacy Programme is fully aligned with the national development vision under President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, which seeks to achieve an upper-middle-income economy.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Professor Obert Jiri, articulated an ambitious but achievable target: to grow the sector into a US$13,75 billion industry by the end of 2025.
This is not mere rhetoric it is a vision grounded in data, investment plans, and Government resolve.
For decades, the agriculture sector was stifled by under investment, weak infrastructure, and a lack of strategic support.
However, the Second Republic has committed itself to correcting these historical imbalances. The Legacy Programme, supported by AGRA, aims to systematically address these gaps by profiling and packaging investment-ready value chains.
Through this, Zimbabwe is now positioned to attract both domestic and foreign investors with confidence. The key value chains including cereals (maize, wheat, rice), oilseeds (soya bean, sunflower), livestock, cotton, and horticulture are not just vital for food security but hold immense industrial and export potential.
This Government-led initiative rightly recognises that the future of agriculture lies in innovation. Zimbabwe must harness the power of modern agricultural technologies to boost productivity. Precision farming, digital advisory platforms, mobile-based extension services, satellite imagery, and e-marketing tools can increase efficiency across the entire value chain.
The adoption of improved seed varieties, targeted fertiliser use, and climate-resilient irrigation will be crucial. With AGRA’s technical support and the Government’s policy framework in place, the country is better positioned than ever to integrate such technologies into farming communities.
One of the most commendable aspects of the Zimbabwe Legacy Programme is its unwavering focus on smallholder farmers. These farmers, who feed the majority of the population, have too often been excluded from mainstream development.
The Government’s inclusive approach — anchored by the
Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy — ensures smallholders have access to inputs, training, extension services, and markets.
Through the decentralised Provincial Agriculture Investment Plans (PAIPs), communities can now implement strategies tailored to their specific agro-ecological zones. This is devolution in action, ensuring no province or farmer is left behind.
A major breakthrough under this programme is the emphasis on agro-industrialisation. The Government has acknowledged that agricultural development cannot be sustained without value addition, rural industrialisation, and market formalisation. Many farmers have suffered losses due to lack of access to storage, transport, and processing facilities.
Now, through the Legacy Programme, rural agro-processing centres, cold storage facilities, and structured markets are being developed to minimise post-harvest losses and improve incomes. Contract farming, linkages with institutional buyers, and regional trade facilitation are part of the plan — all of which reflect the Government’s comprehensive understanding of the sector’s needs.
Financing remains a critical issue for farmers, especially smallholders. However, the Ministry is actively promoting affordable and accessible financing models. The development of blended finance options — where Government and private capital are used together — is a game-changer.
Additionally, climate-risk insurance, digital credit platforms, and value-chain financing are being promoted. The establishment of the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) as a leading financial institution for farmers is another significant step taken by the Government to ensure sustainable credit flows.
The Government’s gender- and youth-responsive policies in agriculture also deserve recognition. Women constitute over 60 percent of the agricultural workforce and yet face barriers in land ownership, training, and financing.
The Legacy Programme is structured to correct this by mainstreaming gender across all interventions. Similarly, young people are being actively engaged through innovation hubs, start-up incubation programmes, and vocational training to ensure they see agriculture not just as work, but as a business. This is how Zimbabwe will retain and empower the next generation of farmers, agribusiness leaders, and rural entrepreneurs.
In today’s world, no agricultural strategy is complete without addressing climate change. The Government is taking a proactive approach to building resilience by promoting climate-smart agriculture.
Conservation farming, reforestation, solar-powered irrigation, and sustainable livestock systems are all being scaled up through ZIPAT. Farmers are being trained not just to survive climate shocks, but to adapt and thrive under new climatic realities. The Government’s commitment to sustainable development is clearly embedded in its agricultural transformation strategy.
One of the key reasons previous programmes in Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector failed was lack of coordination, poor monitoring, and fragmented implementation.
This time, the Government has learnt from past experiences. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Office of the President and Cabinet, clear implementation frameworks are now in place.
The integration of ZIPAT with other national development blueprints such as the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), the upcoming NDS2, and the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy (AFSTS) ensures strategic alignment and policy coherence.
Equally important is the role of strong governance and accountability. The Second Republic has placed transparency and performance at the centre of all its programmes.
This includes tracking outcomes, publishing investment plans, and ensuring all stakeholders — including traditional leaders, civil society, and the private sector — have a voice in shaping the future of agriculture. This participatory approach enhances both trust and efficiency.
With the right leadership, policies, and investment, Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector can become the envy of the region once again. The Government has taken the first critical steps through ZIPAT the road has been paved. What is required now is sustained momentum, community buy-in, and continued collaboration with technical and financial partners.
Revolutionising agriculture is Zimbabwe’s greatest economic opportunity and the Government has already demonstrated its readiness to lead the charge. With Vision 2030 firmly in sight, ZIPAT offers a blueprint for transforming Zimbabwe from a country of untapped potential into a regional agricultural powerhouse. If all sectors of society rally behind this vision, the benefits will not just be felt in the fields — they will be seen in thriving rural economies, reduced food imports, rising exports, and empowered citizens.
Indeed, with decisive implementation and unity of purpose, Zimbabwe can once again become the breadbasket of Southern Africa and this time, sustainably and equitably.
