Matebeleland Pulse Reporter
Zimbabwe has produced 578 059 metric tonnes of wheat this season, surpassing last year’s record of 562 091 tonnes, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka, has announced.
In a statement, Dr Masuka said the country’s wheat production for 2025 represents a 511 percent increase from 2019, and firmly positions Zimbabwe among the few wheat self-sufficient nations in Africa.
“Zimbabwe is poised to register another record wheat production during the 2025 season,” he said. “From a modest volume of 94 685 metric tonnes in 2019, to 562 091 metric tonnes in 2024, Zimbabwe is only one of two jurisdictions on the African continent that have become wheat self-sufficient. This is testament to the President, His Excellency, Dr E. D. Mnangagwa’s visionary leadership. During the current season, cumulatively 578059 MT have been harvested from 110543 hectares.”
The Minister said harvesting of the remaining 12 023 hectares of the 122 566 hectares planted would be completed by the first week of November, pushing total output even higher.
With Zimbabwe’s annual consumption estimated at 360 000MT, this year’s harvest exceeds national demand, paving the way for potential wheat exports within the region and beyond.
“There is, therefore, no need to import wheat,” Dr Masuka said. “However, certain millers have indicated that their mills, and bread styles, require higher gluten content wheat, not achievable from locally produced wheat. As per current policy such wheat, not produced locally, will continue to be imported as per previous pronouncements and import application arrangements, without any additional costs.”
Dr Masuka said Government interventions through the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) have helped stabilise supply and maintain price consistency in the market.
“Government, through the GMB, in the past weeks, has availed over 6 518 metric tonnes to various millers to stabilise supply to ensure seamless availability of appropriate quality wheat. The current wheat products price stability is partially attributable to this timely intervention. This must continue,” he said.
He urged all registered millers, under the Agricultural Marketing Authority Act (Chapter 18:24), to approach Government for support to sustain momentum in stabilising supply and demand.
Dr Masuka also commended the 16 362 farmers who participated in wheat production this season and applauded the inclusive approach driving agricultural transformation.
“May I take this opportunity to congratulate the 16 362 farmers who produced wheat during the 2025 season, and to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the various enablers, and the productive, inclusive and participatory whole-of-sector approach adopted since the advent of the Second Republic, that has produced these remarkable achievements in so short a space of time,” he said.
Concluding, the Minister reaffirmed confidence in Zimbabwe’s collaborative national development model.This coalition of forward-looking Zimbabweans, for progress, will always be triumphant,” he said.
