Staff Reporter
Government has made significant strides in strengthening the agricultural and livestock sectors despite climate challenges, as highlighted in the First Round of Crops, Livestock, and Fisheries Assessment Report presented during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday.
Speaking at the press briefing, Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, emphasized that the survey was conducted by ZIMSTATS using a Whole-of-Government Approach to ensure comprehensive data collection and analysis.
Dr. Muswere reported that the area planted under staple cereals, including maize and traditional grains (sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet), surpassed the targeted 2,520,000 hectares, reaching 2,540,385 hectares for the 2024/2025 season.
“This represents an 8.1% increase from the 2,349,921 hectares achieved in the 2023/2024 season, exceeding our initial projections despite the challenges posed by the El Niño-induced drought,” said Dr. Muswere.
Horticultural production also saw notable growth, with increased planting of blueberries, oranges, and coffee. The total area under horticulture expanded slightly from 11,952 hectares in the 2023/2024 season to 11,957 hectares in the 2024/2025 season.
The national beef cattle herd recorded a 0.4% increase, rising from 5,718,523 in 2023 to 5,741,397 in 2024. Similarly, the national dairy herd grew by 8.7%, increasing from 60,398 in 2023 to 65,659 in 2024, contributing to a 15% rise in raw milk production.
“The Presidential Rural Poultry Scheme continues to gain momentum, with the distribution of 751,408 four-week-old indigenous chicks to beneficiaries in 2024, a significant rise from 200,161 chicks distributed in 2023,” noted Dr. Muswere.
Dr. Muswere noted that the Government remains committed to empowering rural communities through the Rural Development 8.0 initiative, which will help create resilient and self-sufficient communities against future climate shocks.
“The Government has announced key initiatives to climate-proof agriculture and enhance food security, including optimizing cloud seeding for better rainfall, expanding irrigation from 217,000 to 496,000 hectares, accelerating Pfumvudza/Intwasa, and strengthening local fertilizer production.
“Other measures include enhancing community participation in the Strategic Grain Reserve, renaming the Presidential Tick Grease Scheme to Household Tick Management Scheme, and establishing five fingerling production centers in Henderson, Chipinge, Makoholi, Matopo, and Lupane to boost fish farming,” said Dr. Muswere.
Meanwhile, Dr Muswere highlighted that the cabinet has approved new governance policies to enhance accountability and transparency in Government ministries.
“Each ministry will now have a board chaired by the responsible minister, including the deputy minister, five non-executive audit committee members, the accounting officer, and the head of finance. Audit committees will report directly to ministry boards for better oversight, with the Minister of Finance appointing committee members and the Secretary to Treasury acting as the nominating authority for four members.
“The Office of the President and Cabinet will appoint the Audit Committee for Treasury, while ministries will have their legal departments serving as Secretariat for Audit Committees. “These measures will ensure greater transparency, efficiency, and good governance in public financial management,” said Dr. Muswere.
The latest Crops, Livestock, and Fisheries Assessment Report showcases Zimbabwe’s resilience in agriculture and livestock production, despite climate challenges. With increased Government interventions, improved irrigation systems, and better planning, the sector is expected to continue growing, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s food security and economic stability. Additionally, the strengthened governance policies will play a crucial role in enhancing public sector accountability.
