Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka has urged Provincial Ministers to intensify efforts to boost agricultural production in line with Government’s US$15.8 billion target, citing encouraging progress in the 2025/26 summer cropping season.
Addressing at an engagement with Provincial Ministers, Dr Masuka said more than one million hectares of maize had already been planted nationwide, marking a strong start to the season compared to recent years affected by delayed rains.
In previous seasons, maize planting had been significantly constrained by adverse climatic conditions, including the 2023/24 El Niño-induced drought, which saw national planted area and yields decline sharply due to erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells. In contrast, the current season has benefited from improved rainfall distribution in most farming regions, allowing farmers to plant earlier and more confidently.
“The fact that we have surpassed one million hectares at this stage reflects improved preparedness and a more favourable climate outlook compared to last season. However, we must push further to reach optimal planted area and maximise yields,” Dr Masuka said.
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Historically, Zimbabwe’s maize planted area has ranged between 1.8 million and 2 million hectares in good rainfall years, a benchmark the ministry is targeting to approach if current conditions remain stable. Dr Masuka said achieving this would be critical not only for national food security but also for driving growth across the wider agricultural value chain.
The minister also reiterated Government’s policy on the equitable distribution of Presidential Inputs, warning against any form of exclusion or bias.
“The Presidential Inputs Scheme must be implemented without discrimination. All qualifying farmers are entitled to support, and provincial leadership has a duty to ensure transparency and fairness,” he said.
Dr Masuka called on Provincial Ministers to strengthen coordination with Agritex officers and local leadership to monitor planting progress, promote climate-smart agriculture and ensure efficient use of inputs.
The engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to align provincial agricultural performance with national development priorities, as Government seeks to leverage improved climatic conditions to recover from recent droughts and place the sector back on a strong growth trajectory.
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