By Nevison Mpofu
Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to transform its agriculture sector into a US$15.8 billion industry by 2030, with stakeholders across the agricultural value chain converging in Harare for a landmark Seed Business Summit and Seed Roadmap Workshop focused on strengthening seed systems for agricultural transformation.
Running from May 19 to 21, the three-day summit has brought together more than 200 delegates, including government officials, agricultural experts, seed industry leaders, farmer unions, civil society organizations, development partners, private sector players, and representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the United Nations.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Seed Systems for Agricultural Transformation,” the summit seeks to develop practical strategies to improve seed quality, enhance agricultural productivity, and accelerate Zimbabwe’s broader agricultural modernization agenda.
Officially opening the symposium, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Hon. Dr. Anxious Masuka, described seed as the foundation of national prosperity and economic transformation.
“Seed is not only the beginning of a plant, but the beginning of a nation’s prosperity,” said Minister Masuka.
“Within the DNA of a single seed lies the genetic potential to drive food security, industrialization, and rural development. The size of a farmer’s harvest is predetermined by the quality of the seed sown.”
He said the workshop had created an important platform for government, the private sector, researchers, farmers, and development partners to collaborate on strengthening Zimbabwe’s agricultural systems.
“This gathering brings together leaders in the agriculture sector, the seed industry, and several stakeholders to come up with solutions that will help move Zimbabwean agriculture forward,” he said.
Masuka noted that Zimbabwe is transitioning from subsistence farming toward large-scale commercial agriculture and agro-industrialization.
“We are moving from hoes to hectares, from subsistence to commercialization and agro-industrialization,” he added.
The minister highlighted the significant progress made under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which saw the agriculture sector grow from US$5.2 billion to US$10.3 billion by 2025 despite recurrent droughts and climate challenges.
He cited wheat production as one of the country’s major success stories, with output rising from 175,000 tonnes in 2020 to more than 645,000 tonnes in recent years.
Zimbabwe is now targeting 1.5 million tonnes of wheat production by 2028 as part of broader efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and strengthen national food security.
Building on the gains achieved under NDS1, the government recently launched the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), underpinned by the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS 2: 2026–2030).
According to Masuka, the new strategy provides a bold framework for accelerating agricultural growth and rural transformation.
“The strategy seeks to grow Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector into a US$15.8 billion industry by 2030,” he said.
“It is built upon ten strategic pillars operationalized through the Agricultural Development Pentagon Approach, which integrates research, finance, marketing, education, and a multi-stakeholder implementation framework.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Professor Obert Jiri, said Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation agenda is central to the country’s Vision 2030 aspirations.
“Our nation is actively charging toward Vision 2030, which is heavily anchored on the newly adopted sectoral blueprint — the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS 2: 2026–2030),” said Prof. Jiri.
“The blueprint carries a bold mandate to build a resilient, competitive, and climate-proof US$15.8 billion agriculture industry by 2030.”
He emphasized that agriculture remains critical to reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, ending hunger, and enhancing national economic resilience.
Prof. Jiri added that strengthening seed systems would play a pivotal role in improving crop productivity, climate adaptation, and food sustainability, particularly as Zimbabwe continues to face the effects of climate change and erratic rainfall patterns.
The summit also underscored the growing importance of collaboration between government institutions, research bodies, seed companies, financial institutions, and farming communities in driving agricultural innovation and long-term sustainability.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that stronger seed systems, combined with investment in research, irrigation, mechanization, and market access, could significantly boost productivity and position Zimbabwe as a major agricultural player in the region.
As Zimbabwe advances its Vision 2030 agenda, the country’s agricultural transformation strategy is increasingly being viewed as a cornerstone for economic growth, industrialization, rural development, and national food security.
