By Ndafadza Madanha
AGRICULTURE will take centre stage in Zimbabwe’s drive towards industrialisation and economic transformation under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), with Government targeting increased production, irrigation development and local processing of agricultural commodities across all 10 provinces.
Officially opening the 116th edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS), President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the agriculture sector was the engine for industrialisation and that his administration had laid the foundation for sustained growth under NDS1.
“It is timely that this year’s Agriculture Show is occurring on the backdrop of the implementation of the National Development Strategy 2. This strategic national blueprint provides for the accelerated realisation of Vision 2030.
“Key aspects of agriculture, including mechanisation and irrigation development, among others, are at the centre of this agenda. Under my Administration, the sector is the engine of industrialisation, driver of exports, and foundation of food security and self-sufficiency, as well as empowerment and employment creation.
“It is pleasing that under the National Development Strategy 1, we have built the requisite foundation for sustained growth. This has seen us realise unprecedented milestones.”
President Mnangagwa said the agriculture sector had attained several milestones, including Zimbabwe achieving wheat self-sufficiency, while the 2025/26 tobacco output was the second-highest on record.
“In wheat, our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe achieved 100 percent self-sufficiency in 2023, 2024 and again in 2025, with a harvest of 375 000 metric tonnes. Under maize, we experienced a strong recovery from the 2024 drought.
“Recently, the closure of the 2025/26 tobacco marketing season was marked with results that should make the nation proud.
“Our country produced over 358 million kilogrammes of tobacco, valued at over US$892 million. This is our second-highest crop harvest on record, while tobacco remains our number one agricultural export earner, employing over 500 000 people across the value chain.
“I commend our farmers, extension workers, financial institutions, input suppliers and other stakeholders for these successful milestones. Well done. Makorokoto, Amhlophe, Zimbabwe.
“Going forward, I challenge the various sub-sectors, across all categories of farmers, to shift the horizon towards increased and consistent high output, transformation and value addition.”
President Mnangagwa said Government was committed to continually increasing the hectarage under irrigation, with the overall objective of ensuring that the country produces enough grain and horticultural products for local consumption while generating a surplus for export.
He said under NDS2, priority would be given to the establishment of Special Agro-Processing Zones in the country’s 10 provinces.
“Under the National Development Strategy 2, we will no longer export opportunities, jobs and value from our products, which are often exported as raw materials.
“To this end, the Second Republic has set out to establish Special Agro-Processing Zones in all our 10 provinces.
“We must move from raw soyabeans to cooking oil and stock feeds; raw milk to cheese and yoghurt, among other dairy products; fruits to juice and concentrates; tobacco leaf to cigarettes; cattle to leather and packaged meat. All agricultural produce must be processed locally.” ENDS