By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe should strengthen the links connecting farmers to consumers, processors, retailers and regional markets for the country to unlock the full economic potential of its agriculture sector, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said.
FAO Deputy Country Representative Louis Muhigirwa said improved market access, technology, infrastructure and financing were critical to transforming agriculture from largely subsistence activity into a competitive and profitable business.
In an interview with New Ziana on Wednesday at the Harare Agricultural Showgrounds, Muhigirwa said producers need more than the capacity to increase output, but reliable access to markets where their products could compete effectively.
“Market access creates incentives for productive activities, investment in innovation generates employment, particularly for women and youth, and strengthens economic resilience,” he said.
He said Zimbabwe has demonstrated significant productive capacity, entrepreneurial talent and institutional foundations that can position the country to achieve greater competitiveness in agriculture.
“The challenge now is to strengthen the bridges that connect producers to consumers, retailers, processors and expertise in regional markets,” he said.
Muhigirwa called for increased investment in logistics, storage facilities, quality assurance systems and market intelligence, saying technological innovation would only deliver meaningful results when it reached farmers and agribusinesses at community level.
He also stressed the need to harness technology in responding to the growing effects of climate change, which he described as a permanent variable confronting agricultural production.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s a permanent variable in our equation. To emerge from this recurring setback, we must shift from reactive crisis management to proactive, smart economy-smart agriculture,” he said.
Muhigirwa urged stakeholders to embrace precision agriculture and data-driven decision-making, while investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and other innovations capable of helping farmers withstand increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
He said technology, however, has to be matched by stronger commercial systems to ensure that agricultural production translates into sustainable livelihoods and economic growth.
“Agriculture cannot be viewed as a subsistence activity; it must be treated as a robust, profitable business,” he said, adding that this required integrating smallholder farmers into value chains, expanding financial inclusion and strengthening investment in agribusiness.
The United Nations, he said, remains committed to supporting Zimbabwe’s efforts to modernize and transform its agrifood sector through collaboration with Government, the private sector, research institutions, financial institutions and development partners.
“No single stakeholder can address the challenges facing agricultural value chains alone,” he said.
Muhigirwa also underscored the importance of ensuring that women, young people and smallholder farmers were not excluded from the transformation of agricultural value chains.
“Their participation is essential for achieving sustainable and equitable growth,” he said.
He illustrated the potential of technology-driven agriculture through a scenario in which a smallholder farmer uses a mobile application to monitor soil moisture, accesses weather-indexed insurance and sells value-added, drought-resistant produce directly to a local processor through a digital platform.
“This is not a dream; it is a path forward,” he said.
With Zimbabwe seeking to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and build resilience against climate-related shocks, Muhigirwa said the convergence of agriculture, technology and commerce could provide a pathway towards stronger businesses, increased trade and improved livelihoods.
“Let us use this show as a catalyst. Let us commit to building an agriculture sector that is climate-proofed by our innovation and market-driven by our commerce. Together, we can ensure that Zimbabwe does not just survive in changing the future, but thrives in spite of it,” he said.
New Ziana
