Zimbabwe declares food self-sufficiency

Zimbabwe has declared itself food sufficient in all basic staples, ensuring that citizens will not go hungry until the next harvest. The milestone comes as a result of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's robust agricultural production drive and strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening national food security while empowering farmers to earn a sustainable income.

Recent data from a post-harvest survey conducted by ZimStat in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development revealed that Zimbabwe produced approximately 1 819 818 tonnes of maize last season, a substantial increase from the 634 699 tonnes recorded during last year's drought. Sorghum output reached 288 344 tonnes, contributing to a total summer cereal production of 2 242 937 tonnes. Other key crops included 111 399 tonnes of pearl millet and 23 376 tonnes of finger millet.

The country also recorded strong yields in legumes and oilseeds, with groundnuts at 95 827 tonnes, bambara nuts 31 070 tonnes, cowpeas 22 078 tonnes, sunflower 38 828 tonnes, sugar beans 30 000 tonnes, and soya beans 57 750 tonnes. Masvingo Province led in sorghum and pearl millet production, while Mashonaland West dominated maize output. Mashonaland East and Manicaland contributed significantly to groundnut production.

Wheat production has also reached self-sufficiency, with last year's harvest totaling 562 591 tonnes and this year's target exceeding 600 000 tonnes. Improved yields, increased land cultivation, and government-led initiatives, including contract farming and irrigation support by ZINWA, have contributed to this achievement.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the government has worked closely with stakeholders to ensure food security. "The private sector is also playing a role in boosting production through contract farming. ZINWA ensured farmers had access to water, while ZETDC implemented measures to guarantee uninterrupted power supply during the winter cropping season," he said.

This season, Zimbabwe harvested a total of 3 292 172 tonnes of food crops, a 290 percent increase from last year's 843 761 tonnes. The government's focus on strategic support for farmers, including provision of inputs, training in sustainable practices, and climate-proofing initiatives such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa, has been central to these results.

Over 11 million people have benefited from ten Presidential Schemes, including the Inputs Scheme, Cotton Scheme, Rural Horticulture Scheme, Community Fisheries Scheme, Rural Poultry Scheme, Goat Pass-on Scheme, Solar Scheme, Borehole Scheme, and Rural Development Scheme. These initiatives target poverty alleviation, unemployment reduction, and nutritional improvement, forming part of Zimbabwe's vision to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030.

The government has also launched the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy, aiming to grow the sector into a US$14 billion industry through value addition across the supply chain.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers' Union President, Dr Shadreck Makombe, praised the government's collaboration with farmers and the private sector. "The Pfumvudza results continue to improve each year, boosting farmers' confidence and ensuring food self-sufficiency," he said.

The successful harvest has positioned Zimbabwe as a model of agricultural resilience in Africa. Following the positive implementation of the Pfumvudza method, President Mnangagwa has engaged Senegal's leadership to promote the adoption of the technique across the continent.

With favourable weather conditions and continued government support, Zimbabwe's agricultural sector is poised for further growth, demonstrating that food self-sufficiency is achievable through resilience, strategic planning, and collaboration.