Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
THE sugarcane value chain is crucial for transforming Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector, delivering significant economic benefits through revenue generation and enhanced livelihoods.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, permanent secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the industry contributes approximately 1,4 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generates foreign exchange through exports.
“It directly employs over 15 000 people and supports more than 40 000 indirect jobs,” he said.
“Byproducts such as ethanol, molasses, bagasse, and biochar offer further economic advantages.”
Prof Jiri emphasised that the sub-sector encourages rural development by linking small-scale farmers to larger agricultural value chains through the outgrower scheme model, thereby improving market access and incomes in line with Rural Development 8.0 and Vision 2030.
He indicated that sugarcane production is projected to increase from 7,1 million tonnes in 2026 to 8,3 million tonnes by 2030.
The gross value of production is expected to rise from US$3,124 billion to US$3,237 billion by 2030, with a projected average contribution to gross value of 20,5 percent.
However, the industry faces several challenges, including high production costs, low productivity, monopolistic milling practices, climate change, frequent breakdowns of mills, and competition from non-fortified sugar imports.
To address these issues, the “Sugar Industry 10-year Development Plan” will focus on policy, legislative, governance, and institutional reform; new financing models; increasing productivity; better value chain integration; and equitable sharing of benefits among value chain actors. It will also emphasise innovation, technology, modernisation, and market and trade development.
Prof Jiri said the provision of favourable finance, investment in modern infrastructure, the adoption of more efficient irrigation systems, and investment in research, development, and technology transfer will generate more value for all actors in the industry and indeed for the entire nation.
