Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
ZIMBABWE is heading for a potentially outstanding agricultural season, with robust crop conditions nationwide and record breaking tobacco projections bolstering expectations ahead of the Crop and Livestock First Round Assessment (Clafa 1) results.
Government officials say sustained rainfall, increased hectarage, improved financing mechanisms and targeted policy interventions have combined to place the country on track for a landmark harvest.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos said on Monday that crops in the field were showing exceptional performance.
“We had a great amount of rainfall that came into our country and that rainfall continues even up to now. So, we are looking towards a great amount of production. In general, the crop out there looks fantastic. We are seeing a considerable amount of maize in the ground, traditional grains, sunflower and we remain very, very optimistic that this season should be a bumper harvest,” he said.
The second round assessment (Clafa 2), due in April, is expected to provide consolidated national production figures that will guide grain marketing, strategic reserve management and broader food security planning.
Beyond cereals, tobacco — the country’s largest agricultural export — is set to anchor the seasonal gains. Authorities expect output of at least 360 million kilogrammes this year, up from last season’s 355 million kilogrammes, with prospects of surpassing the 400 million kg mark.
Agriculture Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said field assessments across farming regions had reinforced confidence in the outlook.
“What I have witnessed is that we are bound for a great harvest ahead. We are expecting nothing less than 360 million kilogrammes of the golden leaf nationally. What is most impressing is that even dryer regions in Matabeleland North have an impressive crop,” he said.
According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), the planted area has expanded by 42 percent to more than 162 000 hectares, up from about 114 000 hectares last season.
TIMB chairperson Patrick Devenish said the increase reflected the positive impact of policy consistency and enhanced stability in the sector.
“The increase in planted area demonstrates renewed confidence by growers in the tobacco sector,” he said. “Farmers are scaling up production as a result of improved planning, support systems, and stability across the industry.”
Local financing now accounts for 67 percent of total tobacco funding, marking a significant shift from the historical reliance on offshore contracting.
Meanwhile, the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) has, for the first time, exceeded 100 000 hectares under summer cereals, reinforcing national efforts to strengthen the Strategic Grain Reserve.
Providing a detailed breakdown, Arda chief executive officer Mr Tino Mhiko said the authority planted 34 752 hectares of irrigated maize and 64 478 hectares of traditional grains.
“We are in a massive planting exercise for the 2025/26 summer season as part of our mandate to translate food security policy into tangible production. This ambitious production drive, leveraging modern technology, drone-assisted chemical and fertiliser application and well-structured partnerships, underscores Arda’s central role in converting policy into measurable output,” Mr Mhiko said.
Mechanisation support is also being expanded, with combine harvesters being serviced and deployed in clusters to ensure timely harvesting and smooth transition into winter wheat preparations.
If confirmed by Clafa, the projected bumper harvest would mark a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s agricultural recovery, boosting rural incomes, foreign currency inflows and national food security after previous drought affected seasons.
