Tiyani Hahlani
Centre News Hub
Harare- Zimbabwe is projecting a strategic grain reserve surplus of up to 964 945 metric tonnes after national maize production jumped 17.1 percent to 2.68 million tonnes, with deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) also rising by 126 percent from the previous marketing season.
The projections were presented to Cabinet by Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka in an update on the 2025/2026 summer crops marketing and 2026 winter crops production plan, which Cabinet adopted.
According to the Second Round of Crops, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment Report, the projected strategic grain surplus will range between 550 945 metric tonnes and 964 945 metric tonnes, depending on the national consumption rate used.
The lower surplus projection is based on a consumption rate of 10 kilogrammes per person per month, while the higher projection uses a consumption rate of seven kilogrammes per person per month.
Government stocks held at the GMB stood at 252 177 metric tonnes as at August 19, 2026, while deliveries during the 2025/2026 season were 126 percent above those recorded during the 2024/2025 marketing season.
Mashonaland West accounted for the largest share of the GMB intake, contributing 50.1 percent of deliveries.
The increase in maize output was driven by growth in both production area and productivity, according to Cabinet.
The area planted to maize increased from 1 813 974 hectares in 2025 to 1 963 292 hectares in 2026, an 8.2 percent increase.
Over the same period, average national total maize production rose from 2 293 556 metric tonnes to 2 685 021 metric tonnes, representing a 17.1 percent increase.
Cabinet also noted with satisfaction the increase in national maize output, saying initiatives under the Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 were working as intended and that targets were on course to be achieved.
The Government also reported progress on farmer payments, saying the GMB had no outstanding payments for the 2024/2025 marketing season.
Modalities have also been put in place to ensure timely payments during the current marketing season, Cabinet said.
Meanwhile, tobacco production continued to increase, with 358.4 million kilogrammes sold by August 18, 2026 at an average price of US$2.49 per kilogramme.
The volume was marginally higher than the 354 million kilogrammes sold in 2025, although the average price declined from US$3.32 per kilogramme recorded last year.
Tobacco exports remained firm, with cumulative exports reaching 138.25 million kilogrammes, valued at US$791.85 million, as at August 19.
The average export price stood at US$5.73 per kilogramme, while export volume increased by 39 percent and the average export price rose by four percent compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
Winter crop production also exceeded the previous year’s progress, with wheat planting reaching 106 percent of the national target, compared with 101 percent during the same period in 2025.
A further 7 013 hectares had been planted with barley, while 9 000 hectares under Irish potatoes are expected to produce 243 850 metric tonnes.
The latest figures were presented under the Agriculture, Food, Climate and Environment Pillar of the National Development Strategy 2, as Government continues to implement its agricultural production and rural transformation programmes.
