The Sunday Mail
Vangelis Haritatos
AGRICULTURE in Zimbabwe has been completely transformed over the last five years.
For the first time in decades, we can safely say our Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) is holding enough stocks to make us self-sufficient.
What this means
Producing more than one year’s requirements of grain means Zimbabwe has a surplus that can be channelled to different areas.
This surplus could have several benefits for the agriculture sector, including the following:
Reduced food insecurity
With a surplus of grain, Zimbabwe would be better able to feed its population, reducing the risk of food shortages and associated problems such as malnutrition.
Stability for farmers
A grain surplus could provide stability for farmers by giving them a guaranteed market for their produce, which can help stabilise prices.
Economic growth
An abundance of food supports economic growth by reducing food prices and increasing consumers’ disposable incomes, which leads to increased spending in other sectors of the economy.
Regional food security
Zimbabwe could also potentially export part of its surplus grain to neighbouring countries, helping improve food security in the region. Overall, a surplus of grain in Zimbabwe could have many positive effects on the agriculture sector and the broader economy.
We continue striving to do even better as witnessed by our upward review of winter wheat planting targets.
Maintaining the grain surplus, as Zimbabwe moves towards Vision 2030, will require sustained effort to continue improving the agriculture sector and address challenges that have historically hindered productivity.
Here are some steps that Zimbabwe could take to maintain and even increase its grain surplus:
Invest in infrastructure
Zimbabwe is set to invest more in infrastructure such as irrigation systems, roads and storage facilities to improve productivity and efficiency of the agriculture sector.
This will help to reduce post-harvest losses, increase yields and support the development of value chains for agricultural products.
Address climate change and related challenges
Zimbabwe is proactively addressing the challenges posed by climate change — for example, drought and flooding — by promoting climate-smart agricultural practices (Pfumvudza/Intwasa), investing in water management and developing early-warning systems for extreme weather events.
Support smallholder farmers
Smallholder farmers account for the majority of Zimbabwe’s agricultural production, and supporting them through access to finance, inputs and training is helping them increase their productivity and contribution to a sustained surplus of grain.
Promote research and development
Zimbabwe is investing in research and development to improve crop quality and yields. The country is also developing new crop varieties that are better adapted to changing climatic conditions.
Encourage private sector investment
Encouraging private sector investment in the agriculture sector could help increase productivity and efficiency, as well as support the development of value chains for agricultural products. Our policy dictates that the private sector must contract farmers to produce not less than 40 percent of their requirements.
Our recent record in wheat production shows how important the private sector is in our quest to transform our agriculture sector and ensure we attain food, nutrition, oil and fibre self-sufficiency.
Enhance policy and regulatory frameworks
Zimbabwe continues to refine its policies and regulations to promote investment, support smallholder farmers and ensure sustainable agricultural practices. An enabling environment that makes business easy to conduct is what our Government is concerned about, and certainly, Zimbabwe is open for business.
Vangelis Haritatos is Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
