Zimbabwe saves US$70m as maize imports decline
Zimbabwe reduced maize imports by 35% to $128 million in Q1 2026, saving nearly $70 million as local maize production rose 2% to 2.35 million tonnes. Government climate-smart policies, import regulations and stronger domestic harvests improved food security and reduced foreign currency pressure after the El Niño drought.
ZIMBABWE saved approximately US$70 million from reduced maize imports in the first quarter as increased local production continues to strengthen national food security and ease pressure on foreign currency reserves following the devastating 2024 El Niño-induced drought.
The savings build on gains recorded last year when the country cut maize imports by 26 percent, reducing the import bill from US$603 million to US$443 million and saving US$159 million on the back of improved harvests.
Latest data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) show that the value of unmilled maize imports declined by 35 percent to US$128 million during the first quarter of 2026, down from US$198 million in the same period last year.
Import volumes also dropped by 16 percent, from 472 000 tonnes to 395 000 tonnes.
The decline in imports is vital for Zimbabwe’s economy as it reduces demand for scarce foreign currency, improves the country’s trade balance and strengthens food sovereignty by lowering dependence on external grain supplies.
Reduced imports also help retain value within the local agricultural sector by supporting domestic farmers, millers, transporters and related industries, thereby safeguarding jobs and stimulating rural economic activity.
The improvements come as Zimbabwe continues to recover from the effects of the 2023/24 El Niño drought, which severely depleted grain stocks and forced Government to increase imports to avert food shortages.
In response to the drought, Government established the El Niño Drought Action Committee (DAC), bringing together ministries, academics, private sector players and development partners to coordinate both emergency relief and long-term resilience measures.
Among the interventions implemented were duty-free private sector grain imports to stabilise supplies, climate-proofing farming methods and the introduction of agro-ecological targeting under the Presidential Inputs Programme (PIP).
Under the programme, farmers in high-rainfall areas were encouraged to plant larger maize hectarage, while those in drier regions received traditional grain seed varieties better suited to low rainfall conditions.
Government also announced competitive producer prices before planting to encourage investment and assist farmers with planning.
The strategy is now yielding positive results.
The second round of the 2026 Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment (CLAFA-2) report shows that maize production increased by two percent from 2,29 million tonnes during the 2024/25 season to 2,35 million tonnes last season.
While national output increased overall, the report noted significant provincial disparities, with some provinces recording strong gains while others suffered declines.
The communal farming sector contributed 36 percent of total maize production, equivalent to 840 428 tonnes, largely driven by the Pfumvudza/Intwasa conservation agriculture programme.
According to the CLAFA-2 report, 43 percent of total maize production came from agro-ecological Region 2B, while Regions 2A and 2B combined contributed half of national maize output despite accounting for less than a third of the country’s land area.
The report also estimated maize stocks remaining from the 2024/25 season at 114 006 tonnes, bringing total cereal availability to 2 876 614 tonnes.
Agriculture expert and Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (LMAC) executive administrator Dr Reneth Mano said most of the harvest came from rain-fed agriculture, with grain deliveries to the commercial market expected to peak between mid-July and the end of August.
He noted that there were virtually no carry-over stocks from the drought-affected 2023/24 season, prompting many smallholder farmers to retain larger quantities of grain as a food security precaution.
“Smallholder communal and resettled A1 farmers are estimated to retain 1.4 million tonnes of their maize harvest for family consumption and as a post-drought risk aversion strategy, to guarantee household food security through June 2026/27,” said Dr Mano.
With early forecasts indicating the possibility of another El Niño event during the next agricultural season, Cabinet this week adopted seven mitigation and adaptation measures aimed at strengthening food security and climate resilience.
The measures include enhancing the Strategic Grain Reserve purchasing system, introducing Artificial Intelligence-powered silos, accelerating climate-smart agriculture interventions, strengthening grain collection under the Presidential Inputs Programme, improving early warning and advisory systems, intensifying farmer education and extension services, and expanding irrigation infrastructure.
The Government has also introduced policy measures aimed at encouraging local grain production and reducing reliance on imports.
Last year, authorities enacted Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025, the Agricultural Marketing Authority (Grain, Oilseed and Products) (Amendment) Regulations (No. 2), which regulates grain and oilseed imports.
Under the regulations, processors are required to source at least 40 percent of their annual grain and oilseed requirements locally starting from April 1, 2026. The threshold will increase to 100 percent by April 1, 2028.
The law also stipulates that where imported grain lands at a lower price than locally produced grain, the price difference will be channelled towards the Agricultural Revolving Fund to support local agricultural production.
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Source : The Herald
