Zimbabwe harvests record wheat crop, eyes export markets

Zimbabwe has achieved a record wheat harvest of 578,000 tonnes in 2025, surpassing both last year’s result and the country’s annual consumption needs of about 360,000 tonnes. This milestone marks full wheat self-sufficiency for the nation, allowing it to focus on exporting surplus grain to neighboring countries across the region.

Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Anxious Masuka described the achievement as a testament to Zimbabwe’s strengthened agricultural capacity and growing food security. “From just 94,000 tonnes in 2019 to more than half a million tonnes in 2025, Zimbabwe is now one of only two African countries that are fully self-sufficient in wheat,” he said.

The record output has been driven by expanded irrigation, government input support, and mechanisation programs. This year, wheat was planted on over 122,000 hectares — a 511% increase compared to 2019. The growth aligns with the government’s broader strategy to reduce import dependence, particularly following global grain price shocks caused by the war in Ukraine.

According to Minister Masuka, the surplus allows Zimbabwe to explore regional export opportunities, especially in countries still struggling with wheat shortages. Meanwhile, the government continues to stabilise domestic prices and ensure steady supply, having recently released more than 6,500 tonnes of wheat to millers to balance the market.

Despite the surplus, Zimbabwe will maintain limited imports of high-gluten wheat used for specific bread types. Authorities are urging millers and processors to cooperate closely with the Agricultural Marketing Authority to sustain market balance. Zimbabwe’s wheat success story reflects years of investment in irrigation, farmer training, and private-sector partnerships — making it a rare example of agricultural resilience and self-sufficiency in sub-Saharan Africa.

Tags: export, wheat, Zimbabwe, crop forecast