Food security levels surge to 85%
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
Zimbabwe is accelerating towards total food security after recording a dramatic rise in national food self-sufficiency, jumping 41 percentage points from 44% in 2020 to 85% in 2025.
The surge follows robust government policies aimed at reducing reliance on food imports.
Food imports currently cost the country nearly US$1 billion annually, prompting authorities to implement import-substitution measures designed to conserve foreign currency. These policies have already pushed wheat output to over 600,000 metric tonnes, exceeding domestic demand of 360,000 tonnes. Officials now aim to replicate this success across other key crops to achieve full food independence.
In a speech read on his behalf at the Matopos Research Institute last week by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development permanent secretary Professor Obert Jiri, Lands Minister Dr Anxious Masuka highlighted the country’s progress.
“Food security in our rural households has improved from 44% in 2020 to 85% today. These are not just statistics; they are stories of transformed lives and communities. But we cannot rest on our laurels. Today, we are not just celebrating past successes; we are taking a great leap forward to the future,” Dr Masuka said.
On October 29, 2025, President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS 2) for 2026-2030, a framework designed to guide the country toward food self-sufficiency.
Masuka described the new strategy as the sectoral implementation plan for the National Development Strategy 2, which aligns with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 ambitions of growing the agriculture industry from US$10.3 billion to US$15.8 billion.
This milestone reflects a collective resilience, underpinned by increased wheat production, positioning Zimbabwe once again as a regional breadbasket.
“AFSRTS 2 is built on ten foundational pillars, designed to ensure food sovereignty, not just food security. We are moving beyond episodic, weather-dependent production to a climate-proofed agriculture that guarantees we feed ourselves, on our own terms, in perpetuity. Under the same strategy, we will combat stunting and malnutrition by promoting diverse, nutritious foods, including our traditional grains, and bio-fortified crops,” Masuka said.
The minister urged farmers to approach agriculture as a business, emphasizing that every grower, from small-scale communal plots to large estates, must act as an entrepreneur.
“Embrace the ‘agriculture as a business’ model. Your role is critical. You are the CEOs of your fields, the engines of our growth,” he said.
Reflecting this shift, the ministry has rebranded its frontline staff from “AGRITEX Extension Workers” to Agricultural Business Advisors, embedding a business-oriented mindset across the sector. Masuka also noted that the upcoming issuance of bankable title deeds will be a game-changer, unlocking finance and reinforcing this entrepreneurial approach.
Beyond agriculture, the government is transforming rural areas into economic hubs through Rural Development 8.0 programmes, which include initiatives such as the Presidential Input Scheme and Village Business Units. These programmes aim to generate jobs, curb rural-urban migration, and stimulate local economies.
To achieve zero hunger, Zimbabwe is targeting the development of 496,000 hectares of irrigation, promoting sustainable intensive conservation agriculture, and building early warning systems to shield the sector from climate-related shocks.
