Download Agricultural Sector Factsheet_PIP1

OVERVIEW
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Zimbabwe is an agro-based country where 80% of the
population depends on agriculture for a livelihood and
the majority of the farmers are women. A total of 70%
of the country's population resides in rural areas.
The manufacturing sector derives products from
agriculture and in turn the sector provides services and
inputs to agriculture through backward and forward
linkages.
Zimbabwe has a total land area of 39.6 million
hectares, and agriculture is practiced on 39.9%1 of total
land area (15.8 million hectares) of which 10, 9% (4.31
million hectares) is arable.
The commodities contributing to agricultural Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) include tobacco (25%),
maize (14%), cotton (12.5%), beef and fish (10%),
sugar and horticulture (7%) and livestock (24%).
Forest land constitutes 40.4% of total land area and
inhabited by different wildlife species. Zimbabwe's
land thus offers opportunities for wildlife-based
economic activities.
Agriculture is the major employer of the country's
labor force, accounting for 65% of the rural
population. The majority of the rural population (1.3
million) are producers.
Agro-ecological potential: a) Natural region I2 receives
more than 1,000mm of annual rainfall. It is a
specialized and diversified farming region with
plantation forestry, fruit and intensive livestock
production. Tea, coffee and macadamia nuts are grown
in frost-free areas. b) Natural region IIa and IIb receive
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FAO, 2012, www.fao.org
FAO, 2012, www.fao.org
Encyclopaedia of the nations, 2013, www.nationsencyclopedia.com
Matondi, P (2012). Zimbabwe's Fast Track Land Reform. Zed Press
750-1000mm annual rainfall, covering 15% of the land
area. The region is suitable for intensive farming based
on crops or livestock production. c) Natural region III is
a semi-intensive farming region covering 19% of
Zimbabwe. The region receives moderate rainfall of
500-750mm accompanied by severe mid season dry
spells. Maize, tobacco and cotton, are the key crops
produced as well as livestock rearing. d) Natural region
IV is a semi-extensive farming region covering about
38% of Zimbabwe. Rainfall is between 450-650mm.
The area is suitable for cattle ranching with crops
requiring irrigation. d) Natural region V is an extensive
farming region covering about 27% of Zimbabwe.
Rainfall is usually less than 450mm. The area is suitable
for extensive cattle or game ranching.
The country has three major regions distinguished on
the basis of elevation: the Lowveld ( 900m above sea
level), Middleveld (900-1 200m) and Highveld (above 1
200m). Altitude ranges between 197m and 2592m.
About 80% of the land is higher than 600m and less
than 5% is above 1500m, with the highest part in the
Eastern Highlands3.
The main agriculture sectors are: Large scale 1,377,000 hectares of land with approximately +/-300
white farmers and black farmers, and average sizes of
2,200 hectares), A2 (on 2,918,334.08 hectares, and
16,386 farmers and plot sizes averaging 318 hectares),
A1 (5, 759,153.89 hectares, owned by 145,775 farmers
each with an average of 6 hectares arable land
excluding grazing), Old Resettlement (3,500,000
Hectares, with 76,000 farmers on an average of 46
hectares including grazing), Communal (16, 400,400
hectares), and 1,300, 000 farmers with 12 hectares
average plot sizes inclusive of grazing and forest)4.
PIP Empowerment Factsheet 1
Agriculture
Sector
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LAND, EMPOWERMENT AND
INDIGENIZATION
10. Land as a central economic resource was the first to be
considered for indigenization and economic
empowerment since 1980;
a. 3.6 million hectares of land were acquired and redistributed
between 1980 and 20005;
b. 76,000 households benefitted in the old resettlement schemes.
11. The sector remained imbalanced up to 2000 because:
a. 12 million hectares remained in the hands of 4,500 white
farmers, and 70% of that lands was in the agricultural zones
of Mashonaland;
b. Of the 4,500 white farmers only 10% were women.
12. Agricultural land is owned by Previously Disadvantaged
Zimbabweans (PDZs) after the Fast Track Land Reform
Programme (FTLRP) implemented from 2000 to current:
a. White farmers constitute 0.1% of the farmers in the country,
excluding corporate estates. The white large scale commercial
farmers have been reduced from around 6,000 in 1980 to
1,377 in 2009;
b. The small to medium scale commercial farm category increased
from 8,000 in 1980 to 22,072 in 2009, with the introduction
of small to medium scale A2 farmers under leasehold type of
tenure. In 2009, there were approximately 145,775 A1 and
16,386 A2 beneficiaries;
c. The land sector is highly indigenized as indigenous
Zimbabweans own 96% of the 33,032 million hectares of
agricultural land, excluding company, church and corporate
estates (2,041 million hectares) and transitional/ unallocated
land (2,684 million hectares)6.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
CHALLENGES AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
13. Various commodities contribute to agricultural GDP as
follows: maize 14%, tobacco 25%, cotton 12.5%, sugar
and horticulture 7%, beef and fish 10%; at least 24% is
devoted to the rest of livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs,
poultry and ostrich) and 0.5% is accounted by subsistence
crops. Of these commodities; tobacco, cotton, sugar,
horticulture, tea, and bananas account for exports.
14. Maize production has never reached the self sufficiency
level (approximated at 1.8 million tonnes7) over the last 20
years.
15. Maize yields have remained below 800kg/ha between 2000
and 2011. A positive balance sheet was realized in 2003/04
and 2005/06 seasons, whilst the greatest deficit on the
maize balance sheet was experienced in 2006/07 seasons
with a shortfall of 980,000 tonnes.
16. Wheat production has fallen to below 20% of the pre2000 levels of approximately 400 000 tonnes.
17. In 2011, approximately 128 million kilograms of tobacco
were produced, worth US$349 million based on average
auction price of USD2.71/kg. In 2012, the Tobacco
Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) reported that
Zimbabwe sold 140.8 million kg and earned US$517
million.
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR BROAD BASED
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
STRATEGIES
18. Invest in agriculture through technology, information and
skills for better utilization of land by farmers.
19. Ensure security of tenure such that land becomes a
bankable asset that allows farmers to leverage on it so that
they can access capital and increase efficiency and
productivity in the utilization of land.
20. Ensure that there is capacity building for farmers to
improve productivity. This can be achieved through
efficient provision of extension services.
21. Strengthen and rebuild agro-processing/ value addition of
primary agricultural products.
22. Facilitate access to markets by farmers and agroprocessors through institutions such as Zimtrade and the
country's foreign missions.
23. Promote linkages between old large scale farmers, new
farmers (A1 and A2) and smallholder farmers.
24. Design and implement a well planned agrarian reform
package to ensure that the newly resettled and smallholder
farmers are empowered to increase productivity. Such a
package would include access to inputs, credit, tillage,
efficient extension services, research and development
innovation, viable prices, markets and attractive farm labor
remuneration.
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Rugabe L, and Chambati W (2001) Land Redistribution in Zimbabwe: Five Census Surveys of Farmland Transactions,1996-2000, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Rukuni et al; Matondi (2012). Zimbabwe's Agricultural Revolution Revisited. UZP.
Total cereal requirement for human consumption are estimated to be around 1.8 million MT, however, total cereal requirement for the country is estimated to be above
2.2 million MT inclusive of animal feed and industrial cereal intake. These figures however are based on the traditional requirements prior to the 2000 developments.
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This factsheet is one of 16 sector-specific empowerment factsheets produced by Ruzivo Trust under the Policy
Influencing Project (PIP). Ruzivo Trust extends its appreciation to stakeholders who provided input into the
compilation of the factsheets.
Ruzivo Trust, 28 Greendale Avenue, Greendale; P.O. Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
Website: www.ruzivo.co.zw Email: [email protected]
Office numbers: +263 773 853 641 / +263 773 855 554