Source: Zim pushes agro-industrial hub drive at ZAS – herald
Nyasha Simbisai
Agriculture Correspondent
GOVERNMENT is fast-tracking plans to make Zimbabwe an agro-industrial hub by 2030, urging farmers and industry to add value to farm produce to boost regional exports of finished goods.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka said this on Monday while touring exhibition stands at the 2026 Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS).
Minister Masuka said focus should shift from exporting raw commodities to strengthening value chains that add value to locally produced agricultural products.
“Certainly, we have said we wanted a value chain approach and we wanted Zimbabwe to become an agro-industrial hub by 2030, so we can begin to do aggregation, value addition, beneficiation, so that we can export to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, (COMESA) ready-made products rather than just raw agricultural materials,” he said.
The strategy places agriculture at the centre of the industrialisation agenda by linking increased primary production to processing, manufacturing and regional trade.
Value addition is expected to enable farmers and businesses to derive greater returns from agricultural commodities while creating employment opportunities, strengthening rural industries and increasing export earnings.
Minister Masuka said the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show provided an important platform for demonstrating the country’s agricultural capabilities and connecting farmers with technologies and businesses across the value chain.
“It is a unique opportunity for Zimbabwe to be able to display its prowess in agriculture,” he said.
This year’s show has registered increased participation, with 640 exhibitors showcasing agricultural products, technologies, machinery and services.
Minister Masuka said the increase was an indication of growing economic activity and reflected the dynamism being experienced in the agriculture sector.
“There is simply a wondrous variety of exhibits, enthusiasm by the exhibitors, an increase from last year to 640 exhibitors, which is demonstrative of increasing macroeconomic activity, but more particularly the growth in the agriculture sector is often reflected in the dynamism of this premier agricultural show. I am very pleased with what we have seen,” he said.
The show brings together farmers, agricultural equipment manufacturers, seed houses, livestock breeders, agro-processors, researchers, financial institutions and other players whose activities are critical to developing integrated agricultural value chains.
Government has been promoting increased agricultural production alongside mechanisation, irrigation development and value addition as it seeks to transform farming from predominantly primary production into a commercially oriented sector supporting wider industrial development.
Minister Masuka said farmers should, therefore, use the show not merely to view exhibits, but as a platform for exchanging knowledge and identifying technologies that can be adopted on their farms.
This has assumed greater importance as Zimbabwe prepares for the predicted 2026-2027 El Niño.
“I hope that farmers will find this platform as an exchange platform to get new ideas, new technologies, as we have seen, to ensure that we are well prepared for the predicted El Niño in 2026-2027,” Minister Masuka said.
The anticipated El Niño has increased the importance of technologies and production systems that strengthen farmers’ ability to withstand climate-related shocks while maintaining production.
Climate-smart agriculture, irrigation, water management, appropriate crop varieties and improved agricultural technologies are expected to feature prominently as farmers prepare for the forthcoming season.
The agricultural show consequently provides an opportunity for producers to interact directly with technology developers, researchers and service providers and identify practical solutions suitable for their farming enterprises.
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