Zimbabwe expands wheat production and prepares for exports
Zimbabwe expects to harvest around 662.5 thsd tons of wheat in 2026, well above domestic demand of about 360 thsd tons. A surplus of more than 300 thsd tons is expected to be exported, including to Zambia and Mozambique.
Irrigated wheat area reached a record 128.5 thsd ha this season, 3% above the government target. Early harvested fields are averaging around 6.2 t/ha, compared with the planned benchmark of 5 t/ha.
The expansion of winter wheat production came in response to severe drought that damaged a significant share of the country’s summer corn crop earlier this year. Zimbabwe increased the use of its existing irrigation infrastructure to offset potential food supply losses.
A key factor has been the wider use of heat- and drought-tolerant wheat varieties, including SAVE, Zambezi and Limpopo, introduced under the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation programme. Digital water monitoring and upgraded irrigation systems have also supported production.
To support growers, the government set a guaranteed wheat purchase price of $524.56/t. If the production forecast is achieved, Zimbabwe will be able to fully cover domestic demand while strengthening its position as a regional wheat exporter.
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