Zimbabwe Reinstates Maize Import Ban Following Bumper Harvest

Zimbabwe has reimposed a ban on maize imports following a strong domestic harvest, aiming to prioritize purchases from local farmers and strengthen national food security, a top agriculture official confirmed on Monday.

After experiencing improved rainfall this season, the country produced enough maize to meet the needs of local millers, reversing the previous year’s reliance on imports driven by a severe drought linked to El Niño.

“We monitor the situation daily, and our priority is to support local farmers by protecting the domestic market,” said Obert Jiri, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, in an interview with Reuters.

Zimbabwe’s annual maize demand sits at approximately 1.8 million metric tons. However, during the 2023/24 season, production plummeted to just 800,000 metric tons—down from 2.3 million metric tons two years prior. That shortfall led the government to temporarily allow maize imports, including genetically modified varieties, to mitigate food insecurity.

Jiri noted that the recovery this year was supported by government initiatives such as the Pfumvudza programme, which targets smallholder farmers. These efforts have helped rebuild national grain reserves.

Still, analysts caution that the sector remains at risk. Agricultural expert Paul Chidziva emphasized the continued vulnerability of Zimbabwean farming to climate-related shocks, including droughts and erratic weather patterns.

In response, the government has been encouraging farmers to diversify toward more drought-resistant crops like millet and sorghum. According to Jiri, the current surplus presents an important window to enhance food sovereignty and reduce dependence on foreign maize.

Zimbabwe previously spent around US$300 million on maize imports in 2020 when consecutive droughts left more than half the population in need of food assistance.