Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
Zimbabwe’s import‑substitution drive anchored on increased local production is yielding positive results, with maize imports declining by 72 percent to US$75 million in January and February 2026, down from US$130 million during the same period last year.
Beyond saving foreign currency, the policy has helped prevent the export of jobs by stimulating domestic production.
In response to the disruptive effects of the Covid‑19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and the impacts of climate change, the Second Republic adopted inward‑looking production policies aimed at strengthening food and nutrition security.
Over the years, several enablers have been introduced across different sectors of the economy to stimulate local production. Within agriculture alone, Government has put in place 22 key enablers to drive sectoral growth.
These interventions are expected to propel agriculture by 53 percent, from a US$10,3 billion industry in 2025 to a US$15,8 billion industry by 2030.
Key enablers include financing, irrigation, wat er development, mechanisation, seed, fertiliser, chemicals, power, fuel and markets. Other facilitators comprise farmer payments, capacity building, insurance, policy and regulatory frameworks, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and learning, as well as land access.
According to statistics from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats), unmilled maize imports (excluding seed) surged 303 percent to US$602 million in 2024, from US$150 million in 2023, following the El Niño‑induced drought experienced during the 2023/24 agricultural season.
However, Government intervention coupled with an improved 2024/25 summer season resulted in a rebound in maize production, causing imports to decline 26 percent to US$443 million in 2025.
With prospects of an even better harvest this season, Government and its partners are conducting the second round of the Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment (CLAFA 2) 2026, which estimates prospective harvests.
Recently released figures show that unmilled maize imports declined sharply by 72 percent to US$75 212 127 in the first two months of 2026, compared to US$129 642 055 over the same period last year.
For the 2025/26 summer season, Government targeted a maize hectarage of 1,8 million hectares and an output of 2,52 million tonnes, based on an average yield of 1,4 tonnes per hectare.
However, an Agriculture and Rural Development Advisory Service (ARDAS) summary report dated January 12, 2026, shows farmers exceeded the target by five percent, planting 1 885 833 hectares.
Zimbabwe National Farmers Union (ZNFU) president Mrs Monica Chinamasa said the figures demonstrated the commitment of local farmers to achieving national self‑sufficiency.
“Farmers are more than happy to grow maize for the local market, but payment has to be done on time,” she said.
“Treasury should make money available for timely payment of farmers, which remains our greatest weakness so far.”
Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (LMAC) executive administrator Dr Reneth Mano said the trend was expected, as many farmers were still relying on maize stocks retained in their granaries following the El Niño drought.
“Smallholder communal and resettled A1 farmers are estimated to have retained 1,4 million tonnes of their maize harvest for household consumption and as a post‑drought risk‑aversion strategy to guarantee food security through June 2026/27,” he said.
Dr Mano said that during the 2026/27 marketing year, Zimbabwe’s domestic maize‑based agro‑processing food and feed industry would require at least 1,2 million tonnes of maize.
“The stockfeed and livestock production industry alone will require 650 000 tonnes of maize and 200 000 tonnes of soya beans to sustain livestock production and ensure Zimbabwe remains 100 percent self‑sufficient in meat, table eggs and farmed fish,” he said.
He added that the stockfeed and livestock sector would continue sourcing maize, soya beans and white sorghum directly from farmers, contract farming firms, proposed GMB‑managed rural buying points, as well as through Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX) weekly auctions.
White maize remains a strategic national crop, widely grown by smallholder farmers. It provides livelihoods to over three million people and is a key input for the manufacturing sector, making it a vital contributor to the agricultural economy.
According to the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS 2), beyond its economic value, maize production plays a critical role in poverty reduction, with every US$1 invested in maize farming generating US$2,80 in the broader economy.
