• Significant Increase in Maize Imports: Maize imports reached a record US$563 million, a 276% increase from 2023
• Strategic Production Goals: Aims to boost cereal production to over 3.2 million metric tonnes for the 2024/2025 season
• Private Sector Involvement: Expected to contribute 60% of the US$1.64 billion cropping recovery plan

Harare- Zimbabwe's maize imports surged to a historic US$ 563 million in 2024, up from US$ 149.5 million in the previous year, marking a remarkable increase of over 200%. This places maize imports second only to diesel, which recorded US$1 billion ,up from US$600.8 million in 2023.

Year-on-year, maize shipments have escalated by 72%, and over the past five years, the growth is an impressive 403%, with a 277% increase since 2023.

This unprecedented rise in maize imports was primarily driven by severe drought conditions induced by El Niño, the worst in fourty years, necessitating increased importation of this staple commodity.

 Zimbabwe has set an ambitious production target of 3.3 million metric tonnes for cereals and 819,500 metric tonnes for pulses to meet the nutritional needs of its 16.67 million residents and livestock for the 2024-2025 season.

The country requires 2.2 million tonnes of cereal, with human consumption accounting for 1.8 million metric tonnes (including maize, wheat, sorghum, and millet) and livestock feed requiring 400,000 metric tonnes (comprised of maize, soybeans, wheat bran, and sunflower meal).

Historically, Zimbabwe's maize yield peaked at 2.28 million tonnes in 2022, followed by 2.1 million tonnes in 2017. The lowest yields were recorded in 2016 (512 metric tonnes) and 2008 (525 metric tonnes), resulting in import deficits of 1.4 million tonnes and 975 metric tonnes, respectively.

The 2008 agricultural season was particularly challenging due to acute drought, hyperinflation, and political instability.

Maize is a pivotal component of Zimbabwe's agricultural landscape, constituting 50-60% of total cereal production and 70-80% of cereal consumption. As the primary carbohydrate source for human diets and a key element of livestock feed, its importance cannot be overstated.

Like said, for the upcoming 2024/2025 season, the strategic objective is to elevate cereal production to over 3.2 million metric tonnes, with an expansion of the area dedicated to cereal cultivation from approximately 2.3 million hectares in 2023/2024 to 2.5 million hectares.

Maize production is projected to increase significantly from 635,000 metric tonnes to 2.7 million metric tonnes, with average yields expected to rise from 0.8 metric tonnes per hectare to 1.5 metric tonnes per hectare. Traditional grain yields are forecasted to improve from 180 kg per hectare to 800 kg per hectare.

To support this initiative, the government has outlined a robust US$1.64 billion cropping plan aimed at recovery from the severe drought. The government plans to contribute 37% of this funding, while the private sector is expected to provide 60% through contract schemes, with self-financed farmers covering the remaining 3%.

Private sector participation will be pivotal in enhancing irrigation development, with a goal to expand the irrigated area for summer crops from 75,000 hectares in the 2023/2024 season to 90,000 hectares in the 2024/2025 season. Key private sector stakeholders, including Staywell, Innscor Division PHI, Delta, and Northern Farming, form the Food Crop Contractors Association, which aims to fund 97,000 hectares this year—45,000 hectares for maize, 40,000 hectares for soybeans, and 12,000 hectares for sorghum.

Government policy mandates that agro-processors procure 40% of their raw material needs from financed farmers. In the previous season, the private sector contributed to a total cereal production of 449,300 metric tonnes, with approximately 30% of maize sourced from private entities.

The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is expected to produce 500,000 metric tonnes of summer cereals from a 100,000-hectare irrigable area, utilizing its estates, which encompass 20,179 hectares of arable land across 23 estates, with 2,500 hectares currently under irrigation.

In terms of irrigation infrastructure, Zimbabwe is accelerating its rollout; however, progress is hampered by funding constraints. The cumulative area under irrigation is projected to reach 496,000 hectares by 2025, but ongoing financial challenges have impeded this goal.

Since 2020, only 48,000 hectares have been developed, falling short of the 110,000-hectare target and reflecting a 43.6% achievement rate.

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