US agency projects Zimbabwe will double its maize output

By Agencies

Zimbabwe’s maize production in marketing year 2025-26 is projected to more than double due to improved weather conditions, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture.

The agency forecast production to reach 1.3 million tonnes, up from last year’s drought-plagued crop of 635,000 tonnes.

It said this year’s crop development has benefited from a “stronger La Niña weather pattern in the second half of the production season.”

“The Presidential Inputs Scheme has played a crucial role in supporting smallholder farmers by providing subsidized agricultural inputs, significantly contributing to an anticipated increase in production,” the agency said.

As a result of the increased production, maize imports are forecast to decline 300,000 tonnes year on year to 1 million in 2025-26, the FAS said.

However, the number remains historically high as total domestic demand for corn is estimated at 2.2 million tonnes, representing an 8% increase compared to 2024-25, the report said.

The FAS said most of Zimbabwe’s maize imports will come from South Africa, which has approximately 1.5 million tonnes available for export in 2025-26.

While maize is the country’s primary grain crop, growers face numerous challenges, the FAS noted.

Maize production primarily is conducted by communal farmers, who account for 60% of the maize cultivation area but produce less than 40% of the total output due to low yields.

“Farmers have limited access to irrigation technologies, subsequently more than 90% of corn production is reliant on rainfall,” the FAS said.

“The ability of farmers to optimize production is further hindered by macro-economic challenges and relatively high input costs, particularly for fuel and fertilizer.”