The case of Zimbabwe

Massive production of all agricultural commodities to ensure national food security and household food self sufficiency

Contributes between 16 and 20% of GDP Over 40% of national exports 60% of raw materials to agro industries Provides livelihoods to over 70% of the

population Employment for some 1/3 of formal labour

force

Food crops – maize, wheat, small grains Cash crops – tobacco, cotton, coffee, tea,

sugarcane Livestock – cattle, pigs, sheep, goats,

poultry Horticulture – fruits, vegetables , flowers

Fertilizer shortage > low capacity utilisation due to lack of foreign currency

Limited hybrid seed availability > poor supplies of fertilizer, erratic fuel and electricity

Untimely and inapropriate supply of inputs Recurrent droughts and floods Limited financial resources to smallholder

farmers Limited investment in agriculture> irrigation,

infrastructure, market dvpt Limited research and extension > funding

constraints ( cell phone farmers)

Contract farming – cotton, maize, tobacco, barley Linking commodity and input marketing – GMB ,

farmers deliver maize and get inputs in return ( or cash)

Seed fairs – done by AGRITEX, NGOs and seed houses across the country

Warehouse receipts (WR) – improving input credit and adding flexibility in farmer selling decisions. Will weed out ineffective farmers. WR development at an advanced level

Vulnerable farmers – targeted 1million households including 600 000households under FAO. Level of support – 1/3 to 1/2ha. Package includes seeds and fertilizers

Livestock production – rehabilitation of dip tanks, vaccinations, supplementary feeding etc

Irrigation development and drought mitigation – potential 600 000ha but less than 200 000ha developed and functional. Vast water bodies available including underground water.

Farm mechanization – acquisition of tractors, combine harvesters and implements to improve productivity

strengthening of commodity associations, cooperatives and farmer’s unions

Strengthening research and extension services

Promoting investment in agriculture – free market, multicurrency environment but still require irrigation development, input and output market development, infrastructure, among others.