The Zimbabwean government has officially restructured the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), giving it a new mandate as the country’s central food security agency. Under the new plan, ARDA is now expected to produce at least 850,000 tonnes of cereals every year, which will make up about 95% of the national Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR).
This announcement was made by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare. He said the decision was part of the government’s ongoing plans to improve food sufficiency, reduce dependency on imports, and support national development through agriculture.
Dr Muswere explained that the Cabinet had received updates on the 2024–2025 summer crops marketing strategy and the 2025 winter wheat production programme. He said ARDA’s transformation into a food-focused agency shows the administration’s resolve to guarantee food on Zimbabwean tables and strengthen the agriculture sector.
The government is hopeful that the current season will bring a grain surplus. Projections for harvests range from 812,000 tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes, which would go a long way in restocking the Strategic Grain Reserve. To make this possible, the government has allocated funds to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to ensure quick and smooth payments to farmers who deliver grain.
Grain marketing has been decentralized and now includes GMB collection centres, the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX), and direct sales to agro-processing companies. The Warehouse Receipt System is also still running and has already received 4,700 tonnes of grains, oilseeds, and pulses.
To assist farmers further, the GMB has set up 1,804 mobile grain collection points in different local wards. These centres not only help reduce transportation costs for farmers but also help in building local grain reserves and allow smallholders to use receipts from the ZMX platform to buy inputs like seeds and fertilisers.
Dr Muswere also gave updates on the performance of other crops. Cotton sales as of now stand at 17.3 million kilograms, with a total value of about US$5.5 million, spread among six different contracting companies. Tobacco sales have risen sharply this year, reaching 333.3 million kilograms by July 2, 2025, compared to 223 million kilograms in 2024. Even though the average price dropped to US$3.35 per kilogram, total tobacco revenue increased to over US$1.12 billion.
On winter crops, the government said it is closely monitoring production activities to achieve a combined harvest of 875,000 tonnes of wheat, barley, and potatoes during the 2025 season. These crops are key to the country’s food security goals and are expected to benefit from improved support services and input supply.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has credited progress in the agricultural sector to several flagship projects, including the Presidential Inputs Scheme, expanded irrigation infrastructure, and better training for farmers under the Agricultural Recovery Plan. These efforts have provided both small and large-scale farmers with seeds, fertilisers, and expert advice to improve crop yields.
In addition to farming updates, the Cabinet was also briefed on preparations for the upcoming 2025 Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS), which will be held from August 25 to 30. The show is celebrating its 130th anniversary under the theme “Building Bridges: Connecting Agriculture, Industry and Community”.
So far, exhibitor turnout has increased significantly, with a 60.1% rise in space bookings and a 76.8% jump in participants compared to last year. The event will also feature major forums like the Green Indaba, National Agribusiness Conference, and the Zimbabwe Agricultural Media Awards. These forums will focus on climate resilience, investment, and the role of the media in agriculture.
Dr Muswere said these developments reflect Zimbabwe’s commitment to building a strong, self-reliant agricultural economy that will reduce hunger and poverty, and make Zimbabwe more resilient to global food shocks. With ARDA now at the centre of food production, the government is hopeful that Zimbabwe will achieve lasting food security and economic growth.
