Dorothy Sithole
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE is set to strengthen its food security position, with the Government projecting a surplus in the country’s Strategic Grain Reserve following a positive agricultural season.
Addressing the media after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said the country was on course to secure adequate grain stocks.
This is according to the second round Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment report presented to Cabinet.
The assessment report showed positive outcomes of estimated crop, livestock and fisheries production for the 2025/2026 summer season.
“The total cereal production for the 2025/2026 season is expected to reach 2,739,712 metric tonnes, with the overall figure rising to 2,876,614 metric tonnes when Strategic Grain Reserves are included. This places the country in a strong position to meet national food requirements and maintain adequate reserves,” he said.
He said the agriculture sector experienced an overall growth of five percent while maize production is expected to increase by two percent from 2,29 million tonnes in 2024/2025 to 2,35 million tonnes in the 2025/2026 season.
Traditional grains are also estimated at 390,272 tonnes, with sorghum accounting for 290,216 tonnes, while pearl millet and finger millet contributed 87,677 tonnes and 12,379 tonnes, respectively.
“Livestock, goat, sheep, pig and poultry production increased by a range of between 0,3 percent to 29 percent while various horticultural crops grew by between 10 percent to 44 percent. Soyabean production increased by 129 percent from 41,919 tonnes in 2024 to 96,129 tonnes in 2025/2026,” said Dr Soda.
He added that cotton production was estimated at 77,212 tonnes compared to 61,289 tonnes, a 26 percent change compared to the previous season. Tobacco production was also estimated at 378,322 tonnes compared to 353,452 tonnes, a seven percent increase from the previous season.
Dr Soda added that projections pointed to a comfortable surplus going forward.
“The national cereals balance sheet up to March 2027 shows that the nation can expect a surplus ranging between 550,945 and 964,945 metric tonnes, depending on consumption patterns,” he said.
To consolidate these gains, Cabinet adopted a series of measures aimed at strengthening agricultural productivity and resilience.
Dr Soda said Government would enforce Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025 to promote local grain production and procurement while accelerating climate-proofing initiatives.
He said the measures include scaling up Pfumvudza/Intwasa and expanding irrigation development to ensure sustained productivity at both national and household levels.
“Government will ensure adequate resourcing of Rural Development 8.0 schemes together with increased investment in Village Business Units as well as the establishment of Ward Drought Mitigation Centres in order to build resilience of communities against future shocks,” he said.
Responding to questions during the same briefing, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said the combined output of cereals and traditional grains would be sufficient to guarantee national food security.
“The production of cereals and traditional grains will assure the nation of food security at a national level, notwithstanding the localised outages that may occur in some wards and districts. We will mobilise grain from surplus areas to deficit areas to ensure that no community is left behind,” he said.
Dr Masuka said the country already had a buffer stock within the Strategic Grain Reserve.
At the national level, he said the Strategic Grain Reserve was currently at about 150,000 metric tonnes under the Grain Marketing Board.
Combined with the substantial intake anticipated this season, he expressed optimism that increased production would stabilise prices and improve affordability.
“My expectation is that there will be business rationality in the pricing of maize, as this is not a shortage commodity. Millers should behave responsibly to ensure that mealie-meal remains available and affordable to all Zimbabweans,” he said.
Dr Masuka noted that prices had already begun to stabilise in recent months.
“We are encouraged that the price of a 10kg bag of roller meal has stabilised between US$5,50 and US$6,50 over the past six months. As production continues to increase, we expect not only stability but a gradual reduction in prices over time,” he said.
Dr Masuka added that the country’s strategy of boosting local production was key to insulating Zimbabwe from global shocks.
He said, despite global volatility, including developments in the Middle East, the nation’s focus on local production would assure the citizens of both availability and affordability of food.
Looking ahead, Dr Masuka said winter wheat production is expected to exceed national requirements.
“We are planning to produce about 662,000 metric tonnes of wheat, which is above our national requirement. This gives us confidence of a healthy surplus not only for the summer season but extending into winter,” he said.
He also noted that water availability remains favourable to support irrigation.
Online Reporter