The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) projects Zimbabwe’s corn harvest will more than double to 1.3 million tonnes in the 2025-26 marketing year. This marks a dramatic recovery from last season’s drought-affected output of just 635,000 tonnes. The turnaround comes as stronger La Niña weather patterns brought much-needed rainfall during the critical second half of the growing season.
While domestic production is rebounding, Zimbabwe will still need to import about 1 million tonnes of corn – 300,000 tonnes less than last year but still well above historical levels. Rising domestic consumption, now forecast at 2.2 million tonnes, continues to outpace local supply. South Africa is expected to remain the primary supplier, with an estimated 1.5 million tonnes available for export.
The agricultural sector continues to face significant challenges. Most corn farmers rely entirely on rainfall, with less than 10% having access to irrigation. Small-scale communal farmers, who work 60% of the land, produce less than 40% of the total crop due to lower yields. High costs for essential inputs like fuel and fertilizer further limit production potential.
The report cites data from AgriSupp, a market intelligence platform developed by agricultural analysts UkrAgroConsult. Drawing on 30 years of expertise, the platform provides detailed tracking of grain markets across the Black Sea and Danube regions, offering valuable insights for farmers and traders alike.
