In Zimbabwe, the El Niño-induced drought significantly reduced harvests in 2023/2024. For the upcoming 2024/2025 agricultural season, the government is preparing a plan to revitalize production across various sectors.
Government Unveils Ambitious Plan
Zimbabwe’s production plan for the 2024/2025 summer agricultural season was unveiled on July 16th during a Council of Ministers meeting.
According to Anxious Masuka, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, this new strategy requires an investment of $1.6 billion.
Funding Sources: Public and Private
The announced budget will be funded 40% by the government through its flagship agricultural input subsidy program, “Pfumvudza,” while the remaining funds will come from private sector contributions.
“This plan is being implemented in the context of a 2023/2024 summer season ravaged by the El Niño-induced drought and a forecast of better rainfall, given the increasing likelihood of the La Niña climate phenomenon during the 2024/2025 summer season,” reads the Council of Ministers’ statement.
Focus on Food, Feed, Oilseeds, and Industrial Crops
Interventions will primarily focus on food and fodder crops, oilseeds, and industrial crops.
For the 2024/2025 summer season, the government anticipates an 8.6% increase in the area dedicated to cereals, reaching 2.5 million hectares, 200,000 hectares more than the previous year. “Furthermore, the yield of traditional cereals is expected to increase from an average of 180 kilograms per hectare during the 2023/2024 summer season to 800 kilograms per hectare,” adds Mr. Masuka.
Significant Increase in Grain Harvest Projected
If these projections materialize, the agricultural sector should harvest 3.2 million tons of cereals, compared to the 750,000 tons produced a year earlier. The maize harvest, in particular, is expected to reach 2.7 million tons.
Annual maize consumption in Zimbabwe amounts to 2.2 million tons, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). It’s worth noting that in 2023/2024, the southern African country experienced its worst maize harvest in eight years.