ZIMBABWE has the potential to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen climate resilience through the adoption of digital agriculture and artificial intelligence, the United Nations has said.
A new UN policy brief warns, however, that while digital technologies offer significant opportunities to transform smallholder farming, progress in Zimbabwe remains uneven due to structural barriers such as low digital literacy, limited rural connectivity and persistent gender inequalities that continue to restrict inclusive access.
According to the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health 2026 policy brief, titled “Digital Agriculture and AI for Climate-Resilient Smallholder Farming in Zimbabwe,” the findings are intended to guide policymakers, regulators, development partners and implementing agencies between 2026 and 2030.
The brief draws on evidence from across sub-Saharan Africa and provides policy recommendations to support Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation, digital innovation and rural development agenda.
“Digital technologies offer opportunities to strengthen smallholder farmers’ access to markets, climate information services and agricultural advisory support, contributing to more resilient and productive agri-food systems under climate change,” the brief said.
It notes that smallholder farmers remain central to Zimbabwe’s food systems and rural livelihoods, but their productivity and resilience continue to be constrained by structural challenges, including limited access to markets, weak extension services, inadequate financial services and heightened exposure to climate risks.
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The report argues that digitalisation presents a strategic opportunity to address several of these constraints simultaneously.
It highlights that mobile-based platforms, digital financial services and data-enabled advisory tools can improve information flow, reduce transaction costs, strengthen risk management and support better decision-making among farmers.
However, the study cautions that digitalisation can deepen inequality if not properly managed.
“Digitalisation is not inherently inclusive. Without a deliberate policy design, targeted investment and safeguards to address structural inequalities — particularly those related to gender, income, geography and digital literacy —digital transformation may reinforce existing disparities rather than deliver equitable and climate-resilient outcomes,” it warned.
The brief said digital adoption was a key priority for Zimbabwe, offering a catalytic pathway to advance national development goals.
Policy recommendations for 2026-2030 include increased investment in rural digital infrastructure and strengthened digital literacy programmes.
“Public investment should prioritise the expansion of mobile broadband and affordable data coverage in underserved rural and farming areas,” the brief said.
It adds that digital literacy programmes should be context-specific and demand-driven, tailored to the practical needs of smallholder farmers.
Training should focus on mobile advisory tools, climate information services, digital financial platforms and market information systems that support improved market access, risk assessment, and farm-level decision-making.
The UN also called for the development of affordable, user-friendly digital tools designed around the realities of smallholder farmers.
It further recommended leveraging public-private partnerships to scale digital agricultural solutions, with governments helping to de-risk private investment through mechanisms such as matching grants, innovation funds and regulatory sandboxes.
Digital financial services, including mobile-based credit, savings and insurance products, should also be aligned with agricultural production cycles to better support farmers, the brief added.