Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE is set to record a grain surplus of 812 000 tonnes this year, as the agricultural transformation programme by the Second Republic takes root.
The figure could be higher if projections were to be based on the Sadc regional average cereal consumption rate, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said while delivering a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday.
“As the transformational programme of the Second Republic continues to bear fruit, the nation is projected to record a grain surplus of approximately 812 000 tonnes. This projection is based on an anticipated cereal reserve of 3,01 million tonnes, comprising an expected harvest of 2 928 206 tonnes and an existing reserve of 83 526 tonnes, against an annual grain requirement of 2.2 million tonnes,” said Dr Muswere.
“Notably, the surplus will be even greater if projections are based on the Sadc regional average cereal consumption rate of 8.5 kilogrammes per person per month or on the national actual average consumption rate of 7.7 kilogrammes per person per month,” he said.
Government, he said, will continue to provide resources to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to buy grain timeously.
“In order to ensure optimal support to the agricultural sector, resources will continue to be availed to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to facilitate timeous payments for grain deliveries by farming communities.
“Grain marketing will also continue to be conducted through multiple channels, including the GMB, the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX) and direct sales to various agro-processors. In addition, the Warehouse Receipt System is active, with a 2025 intake of 4 000 tonnes of cereals, oilseeds and pulses realised to date,” Dr Muswere said.
He said the 2025 cotton marketing season commenced on June 9, with approximately 311 000 kilogrammes marketed to seven contractors to date.
“In tobacco marketing, a significant milestone has been achieved, with total sales surpassing the 300 million-kilogramme target set under the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan to reach 309 120 966 kilogrammes. This represents a 45.65 percent increase in volume, compared to the 209 million kilogrammes sold in 2024, and sales are still ongoing,” said Dr Muswere.
Although the average price has slightly decreased from $3.45 to $3.36 per kilogramme, the total value of sales has surged to over $1.04 billion, up from the $721 million attained in 2024.
Regarding wheat production, over 122 142 hectares have been planted to date, exceeding the initial target of 120 000ha.
Dr Muswere said Government continues to monitor key enablers to guarantee the achievement of an anticipated production of 600 000 tonnes of wheat from the 2025 season.
Currently, barley planting stands at 6 115ha, achieving 94.1 percent of the 6 500ha target. Meanwhile, 4 512ha of potatoes have been planted, against a target of 8 750ha.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said they have established over 600 buying centres for cotton marketing to ensure financial inclusion for all farmers.
Responding to enquiries from the media, Minister Masuka said the Agricultural Marketing Authority will establish more buying points to consolidate all seven contractors, a development that will curb side marketing.
“When we regulate the cotton sector through AMA, we regulate the sector for growth and there must be financial inclusivity. It is in this context that AMA has established over 600 buying points, we call them common buying points. All the seven contractors are obligated to purchase at these buying points, which have been carefully selected for accessibility and to ensure that those payment platforms will see business in transacting with 500 000 farmers engaged in the cotton business and avoid side marketing,” he said.
Minister Masuka described side marketing as a cancer which does not only happen with individual farmers, but at the level of companies.
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