HARARE – Zimbabwe’s cereal production for the 2024/25 agricultural season has declined from earlier projections but remains sufficient to sustain a modest national grain surplus into mid-2026, according to new data released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT).
Presenting findings from the country’s first-ever Post-Harvest Survey, ZIMSTAT’s Manager for Agriculture and Environment Statistics, Mr Nelson Mupfugami, revealed that total cereal output stood at 2.24 million tonnes, lower than the 2.93 million tonnes projected in the April Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment 2 (CLAFA-2) report.
“The survey provides a verified account of what was actually harvested and retained in stock,” said Mupfugami. “This allows policymakers to make informed decisions based on confirmed production rather than estimates.”
Maize remained the dominant crop, contributing 1.82 million tonnes to the total, followed by sorghum (288,344 tonnes), pearl millet (111,399 tonnes) and finger millet (23,376 tonnes).
However, maize production fell 23 percent below earlier projections of 2.29 million tonnes, a decline ZIMSTAT attributed to pest outbreaks and erratic rainfall patterns experienced during the growing season.
Despite the drop, the country’s maize reserves remain relatively healthy. As of early September, 1.06 million tonnes (58.5%) of the maize produced were still in storage, while 279,000 tonnes had been consumed and 398,900 tonnes sold.
“We are seeing a trend of increased household retention, as farmers adopt a cautious approach following a difficult climatic year,” Mupfugami observed.
The survey also highlighted the key role of communal farmers, who produced 794,000 tonnes of maize (44%), outpacing other farming categories. A1 farmers contributed 437,000 tonnes, while A2 commercial farmers delivered 331,000 tonnes.
The findings will guide the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development in refining food-security projections for the 2025/26 consumption year.
At the current national consumption rate of 7.5 kilograms per person per month, Zimbabwe is expected to need 1.39 million tonnes of grain for human consumption and 400,000 tonnes for livestock feed. This leaves a projected grain surplus of 456,900 tonnes by May 2026.
“This outlook provides a cushion for national cereal requirements, assuming stable post-harvest management and minimal additional losses,” Mupfugami added.
Source: The Herald
