ZIMBABWE’s agroecology sector is emerging as a high-potential investment frontier, driven by rising consumer demand for healthy, culturally rooted, and sustainably produced foods, NewsDay Farming understands.
Agroecology is a production approach that blends traditional knowledge with modern ecological science that is centred on soil conservation, biodiversity, low-input farming and community-based food systems.
In Zimbabwe, the model is gaining traction as farmers and entrepreneurs respond to climate shocks, input price increases and shifting consumer preferences toward natural and indigenous foods.
Recently, the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Zimbabwe held the African Agroecological Entrepreneurs National Matchmaking Event, an investment matchmaking programme designed to link agroecological entrepreneurs with buyers, retailers, financiers, and impact investors.
The event forms part of a broader regional push to strengthen agroecological value chains, improve market access and create viable businesses rooted in sustainable land management.
The initiative also addresses long-standing barriers faced by emerging agribusinesses in the sector, from limited visibility and branding to difficulties in obtaining certification, packaging and growth capital.
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PELUM Zimbabwe is an institution working through member organisations to support small-scale farmers, with the aim of promoting sustainable livelihoods.
“Zimbabwe has a growing demand for healthy, culturally rooted, and sustainably produced foods,” PELUM Zimbabwe programmes co-ordinator FariraiJemwa told NewsDay Farming.
“This presents clear opportunities for agroecological entrepreneurs in areas such as indigenous food processing, climate-resilient seed systems, bio-inputs, regenerative livestock systems, and value-added products like sorghum, millet, nyimo (bambara groundnuts) and baobab.
“Investors can capitalise by supporting scalable models that combine climate resilience with market demand, specially enterprises that integrate traceability, community engagement and sustainable land management.”
She added that there was also potential in export markets where organic and ethically produced African products were beginning to gain traction.
“Structured investment, blended finance, and mentorship can unlock this potential while ensuring long-term environmental and social returns.”
A central aim of the PELUM Zimbabwe programme is to close the persistent information and opportunity gap between entrepreneurs and industry players.
This is because many agroecological enterprises operate informally and struggle to meet the standards required by formal markets.
Hence, the platform provides a rare interface with processors, retail chains, financial institutions and impact investors.
“This event creates a direct interface between agroecological entrepreneurs and key market actors,” Jemwa said.
“It helps close information gaps, boosts confidence, and brings entrepreneurs closer to financing opportunities they normally cannot access.”
The programme also offered investment-readiness training, product development insights and guidance on compliance, crucial steps for small businesses looking to scale.
Several Zimbabwean enterprises have already benefited from similar mentorship and partnership programmes, demonstrating that agroecology can be both sustainable and profitable.
These include indigenous food processors who have grown into formal suppliers, women-led seed enterprises that now support community seed banks and farmer networks, and smallholder livestock keepers who have improved productivity through regenerative rangeland management.
Consequently, some businesses have moved from household-level production to supplying supermarkets and speciality stores, marking a significant milestone for local, eco-friendly brands.