By Zachary Gava
Harare, August 25, 2026 (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe is on course to secure a substantial strategic grain surplus of 964 945 metric tonnes this year, as increased maize production and improved productivity strengthen the country’s food security position, Government has said.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Zhemu Soda said the projected surplus was contained in the Second Round of Crops, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment Report presented to Cabinet alongside an update on the 2025/2026 summer crops marketing season and the 2026 winter crops production plan.
Presenting the Cabinet decisions at the post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Minister Soda said the projected surplus would range between 550 945 metric tonnes and 964 945 metric tonnes, depending on national consumption rates of 10 kilogrammes and seven kilogrammes per person per month respectively.
Government stocks held by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) stood at 252 177 metric tonnes as at August 19, 2026, while deliveries during the 2025/2026 marketing season were 126 percent higher than those recorded in the previous season.
Mashonaland West emerged as the leading contributor to GMB deliveries, accounting for 50.1 percent of total intake.
“Cabinet notes with satisfaction that the increase in national maize output was driven by an increase in both productivity and hectarage, showing that initiatives under the Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 are working as intended and targets are on course to be achieved,” Dr Soda said.
The country’s maize hectarage increased from 1 813 974 hectares in 2025 to 1 963 292 hectares in 2026, representing an 8.2 percent rise.
At the same time, national maize production increased from 2 293 556 metric tonnes to 2 685 021 metric tonnes, translating to a significant 17.1 percent growth.
The improved harvest is expected to ease pressure on national grain supplies, while strengthening Government’s capacity to maintain strategic reserves and support food security.
Minister Soda also said Government had cleared all outstanding payments to farmers for the 2024/2025 marketing season, while measures had been put in place to ensure farmers are paid on time during the current season.
“The Grain Marketing Board has no outstanding farmer payments for the 2024/2025 marketing season, and modalities have been put in place to ensure timely payments during the current marketing season,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector continues to register strong production and export performance, although average auction prices have softened.
As at August 18, 2026, a total of 358.4 million kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold at an average price of US$2.49 per kilogramme, compared with 354 million kilogrammes sold at an average of US$3.32 per kilogramme during the corresponding period in 2025.
Despite the lower average selling price, tobacco exports remained firm, with 138.25 million kilogrammes exported by August 19, earning US$791.85 million at an average export price of US$5.73 per kilogramme.
Export volume for the crop was 39 percent higher, while the average export price increased by four percent compared with the same period last year.
Minister Soda said winter wheat hectarage this year had reached 106 percent of the national target, up from 101 percent achieved during the same period in 2025.
Meanwhile, 7 013 hectares had been planted to barley, while the country is expecting 243 850 metric tonnes of Irish potatoes from the 9 000 hectares planted.
The developments point to continued momentum in Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation agenda, with Government seeking to boost domestic food production, strengthen farmer incomes and reduce reliance on imports through increased productivity and expanded cultivated areas.
New Ziana
