Zim Eyes Grain Surplus

Zimbabwe is on course for a bumper grain harvest, with projections pointing to a surplus of approximately 812,000 tonnes, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere announced after the June 24 Cabinet meeting.

The country’s cereal reserves are expected to reach 3.01 million tonnes, driven by a strong harvest of 2,928,206 tonnes and carry-over stocks of 83,526 tonnes. This comfortably exceeds the national annual requirement of 2.2 million tonnes.

Muswere noted that the surplus would appear even more significant if assessed using regional consumption figures. The Southern African Development Community average stands at 8.5 kilograms per person per month, while Zimbabwe’s own average is 7.7 kilograms.

Grain marketing efforts are ongoing, with distribution happening through various platforms including the Grain Marketing Board, the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange, and direct supply to agro-processors.

The minister also gave an update on the 2025 cotton marketing season, which began on June 9. So far, around 311,000 kilograms have been sold via seven licensed contractors.

In the tobacco sector, farmers have already exceeded the annual target set under the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan. As of this week, 309.1 million kilograms had been delivered—an impressive 45.65 percent increase over the 209 million kilograms sold in 2024.

Although the average price per kilogram dipped slightly from US$3.45 to US$3.36, the total revenue has surged to more than US$1.04 billion, compared to US$721 million last year.

Meanwhile, wheat farming has also surpassed expectations, with 122,142 hectares planted—exceeding the national target of 120,000 hectares. Government is actively monitoring crucial inputs such as electricity, irrigation infrastructure, and agro-chemicals to ensure a successful 600,000-tonne harvest in the upcoming season.

Barley planting has reached 6,115 hectares, which is 94.1 percent of the 6,500-hectare goal. Potato cultivation currently covers 4,512 hectares, falling short of the 8,750-hectare target but showing steady progress, Muswere added.