Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
ZIMBABWE has unveiled a US$1,4 billion agricultural investment pitch to global financiers, targeting seven high-impact value chains as the country positions itself to meet domestic needs and secure lucrative export markets.
The pitch was made at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Dakar, Senegal, where permanent secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the thrust was anchored on the Zimbabwe Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy (AFSRTS).
Zimbabwe has identified 42 agricultural value chains but narrowed down its pitch to seven priority areas for impact results, and these are blueberries, dairy, beef, maize, sunflowers, soya beans and poultry.
“We are in Dakar, Senegal, where we are meeting investors in agriculture. As Zimbabwe, we have our investment pitch anchored on the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy (AFSRTS).
“We are saying Zimbabwe is open to developing these value chains to fulfil internal requirements and also for exports. The total package of US$1,4 billion has been pitched to ensure that we develop these value chains,” Prof Jiri said.
According to the Zimbabwe Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Investment Roadmap (ZAFSRTIR), sector-specific requirements include US$468 million for the production of maize, US$403 million for soya beans, US$251,9 million for sunflower, US$23,7 million for blueberries, US$45,2 million for beef, US$71,4 million for dairy, US$15,1 million for eggs and US$143,3 million for broilers.
For instance, in terms of the fast-growing blueberries subsector, the roadmap says that Zimbabwe has set a production growth target of 19 000 metric tonnes by 2030, up from the current 8 000 metric tonnes.
The domestic market value is expected to expand from US$48 million in 2025 to US$68 million by 2030, with significant export potential across SADC, Comesa and other global markets.
For beef, volume from pen fattening is projected to grow to 164 000 metric tonnes by 2030 from 123 000 metric tonnes.
The annual export potential has been pegged at 15 000 metric tonnes to the European Union, the Middle East and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Domestic market value is expected to expand to US$757 million by 2030 from US$529 million. Investment opportunities include stock procurement, feedlots, processing equipment, cold chain infrastructure, veterinary products, paddocks and transport logistics.
In terms of the dairy industry, national milk output is projected to reach 155 million litres by 2030, up from the current 117 million litres, driven by investments in breeding, feed production and processing.
The poultry sector expansion target entails broiler and egg production, earmarked for major investment to supply growing domestic and regional demand.
Prof Jiri said the investment roadmap was designed to unlock value, enhance national food security and transform Zimbabwe into a competitive regional food hub by 2030.
Agriculture analysts are on record saying the country’s agricultural sector rebound will propel strong growth across key sub-sectors of the domestic economy, ultimately benefiting associated businesses along value chains.
The strong performance of agriculture this year is expected to drive business in the agro-processing, transportation and rural retail sub-sectors and related value chains.
Given its strategic importance to Zimbabwe’s economy, the sector is also expected to contribute significantly towards Zimbabwe’s economic growth target of 6 percent this year, following the muted 2 percent expansion last year.
