Online Reporter
Judith Phiri [email protected]
ZIMBABWE is leading by example in circular food systems across the region, with its experiences offering practical lessons expected to drive the agricultural economy from US$10.3 billion to US$15.8 billion by 2030, a senior Government official has said.
The country’s five impact areas are food security and sovereignty, nutrition security, improved livelihoods, agriculture-led economic growth and land tenure security.
Zimbabwe has transitioned to the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS 2) (2026-2030), the country’s new agriculture roadmap, building on the success of AFSRTS 1 (2020-2025).
Officially opening the 2026 Regional Circular Food Systems Policy Dialogue in Bulawayo on Tuesday, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Deputy Minister Davis Marapira said the country was actively pioneering climate-resilient circular food systems.
“On nutrition, we aim to reduce stunting from 24 percent to 20 percent, wasting from 4 percent to 3 percent, and increase the proportion of children receiving a minimum acceptable diet from 12 percent to 25 percent by 2030,” he said.
“Circular food systems with diverse crops and integrated livestock are essential to achieving these goals. Delegates can explore how similar nutrition targets could be integrated into the region’s circular strategies.”
On climate resilience, he said Zimbabwe was developing 496,000 hectares of irrigation by 2030, aiming for 100 percent adoption of the sustainable intensive conservation agriculture model by 2028.
While completing nine major dams under the infrastructure 6.0 model, strengthening early warning systems and exploring carbon credits and climate risk insurance.
“These are not just Zimbabwean targets, but they are potential blueprints for regional action. On food loss and waste, we have a target to reduce pre- and post-harvest losses from 16.5 percent to 6 percent by 2030 through cold chains, agro-processing hubs, and better storage. This is a core circular economy priority that all our countries share,” he added.
“On rural development, our Rural Development 8.0 programme already puts circular principles into practice, village business units (VBUs) with solar-powered drip irrigation and fish ponds, Presidential poultry and goat schemes and the Presidential Climate-Proofed Input Scheme. These models can be adapted across the region.”
Deputy Minister Marapira said on water, sanitation and hygiene, the country was increasing rural water access from 88 percent to 100 percent and sanitation to 100 percent by 2030, essential for the water, energy, food and health nexus that is central to circular systems.
He said across every pillar, they were mainstreaming women and youth.
“I therefore say directly to every investor, development partner and financier in this room, align your capital and expertise with these priority areas.
“That is where you will have the greatest impact, generating both sustainable returns and lasting developmental outcomes for the people of Eastern and Southern Africa,” he said.
The Deputy Minister challenged delegates to move beyond discussion and co-develop an actionable policy and investment roadmap that identifies priority actions, responsible actors and near-term opportunities.
He said there was a need to strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones across national and regional policy bodies, research programmes, financial institutions, and the private sector.
Deputy Minister Marapira said: “Crowd in climate and green growth finance for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially those led by young people and women. May the outcomes of this dialogue accelerate the circular transition across Eastern and Southern Africa.”
