Fuel price surge threatens winter wheat season

Zimbabwe's winter wheat season faces significant disruption following a sharp increase in fuel prices and the rising cost of critical farming inputs, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) has warned.

The union said current producer prices from the previous season are no longer viable, as they fail to match the escalating cost of production driven largely by recent fuel hikes.

Diesel prices have risen to US$2.09 per litre after adjustments by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) between March and April 2026. This marks a steep increase from US$1.52 per litre recorded during the last farming season—an approximate 37.5% jump that has placed farmers under mounting pressure.

In a statement, the ZFU said the current pricing model does not reflect Zimbabwe's volatile economic environment, leaving farmers exposed to rising input costs without corresponding adjustments in returns.

"It is no longer lucrative to grow wheat as budgets are reflecting a decrease in income after harvests," the union said. "The question now is what can be done to cushion the vulnerable farmer in a way that improves productivity and farmers' income for a stable economic atmosphere?"

The mismatch between fixed producer prices and the surging costs of essentials such as fuel and fertilizer has created what the union describes as an unsustainable burden. Many small-scale farmers are now scaling back operations due to the high cost of mechanisation.

With diesel prices hovering above US$2.00 per litre, expenses related to land preparation and irrigation—key components of winter wheat production—have surged dramatically. Farmers say the cost of powering machinery and irrigation systems has become the single biggest obstacle to achieving the national winter wheat target of 120,000 hectares.

"Mechanisation and irrigation, which are the backbone of a successful winter wheat crop, are now out of reach for the average producer, leading to a slow start in land preparation across the country's provinces," the statement added.

The developments raise concerns over Zimbabwe's ability to meet its wheat production targets, potentially affecting national food security if the situation persists.