ZIMBABWE has unveiled an ambitious plan to grow its agricultural sector from a gross value of over US$10 billion to US$15,8 billion by 2030, a senior government official has said.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development deputy minister Vangelis Haritatos revealed this during the Charter Seed Field Day held at ART Farm in Harare recently.
The Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS2: 2026-30) aims to transform Zimbabwean farming from subsistence to commercially-driven, value-added agriculture.
By promoting innovation, market alignment and food sovereignty, the strategy seeks to boost rural economies, create jobs for youth, and generate foreign currency, positioning agriculture as a key driver of national growth.
Haritatos said the new strategy built on the success of the first, which grew the sector’s gross value to over US$10 billion.
“This is our roadmap, our compass, building on the phenomenal success of the first strategy, which grew the sector's gross value to over US$10 billion, this new strategy is more ambitious, more focused and more detailed,” he said.
“It is built on 10 pillars and arms to build a US$15,8 billion agricultural industry by 2030.”
He said AFSRTS2 pushes farmers from a mindset of mere food security to one of food sovereignty.
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“It is not just about having enough food but about controlling the entire food system, from the seed we plant to the market we sell to. And it is this concept of starting right, starting with quality, that brings us to the importance of today's field day,” he said.
The deputy minister emphasised the strategic importance of seed and innovation, adding that it was the foundation of agricultural transformation.
AFSRTS2 targets increased production across the board, including three million tonnes of maize, 1,38 million tonnes of wheat and a 70% increase in horticulture.
“These are not just numbers on a page; they represent food on our tables, jobs for our youth and foreign currency for our nation,” Haritatos said.
“We are now in the era of agriculture as a business, hence it requires a scientific approach. It requires us to move away from blanket recommendations to precise, data-driven decisions.”
Haritatos encouraged farmers to consider market alignment, challenging farmers to be determined in their farming activities.
