Agriculture key to Zimbabwe’s economic growth
BEFORE independence, most of the country’s agricultural land belonged to whites, leaving blacks in semi-arid regions while they lived on fertile, expansive lands.
But the fast track land redistribution and reform programme, which started in the year 2000, saw many blacks return to their motherland as they were once settled in reserves.
Zimbabwe has a well-developed and diversified agricultural sector, producing food crops, cash crops, and livestock.
The Government has boosted the agricultural sector by providing electricity in some rural areas through the Rural Electrification Programme and provision of free seed, fertiliser and implements.
The Rural Electrification Programme has helped many farmers as they can now use electricity for irrigation and other purposes at their farms. This has gone a long way in empowering farmers.
Although agriculture accounted for only 28 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1998, it engaged about 66 percent of the labour force in 1996. Some 27 percent of formal sector employment was in the agriculture sector in 1997.
After independence, agriculture’s share of GDP has been fluctuating, depending on the impact of drought and the level world prices for export crops compared to the years before independence.
Zimbabwe produces much of its own food, except in years where drought affects maize and wheat production. The staple food crop is maize, and other major cereal crops are barley, millet, sorghum, and wheat.
Horticulture is also a major export crop while ostrich and game farming have become increasingly important over the last few years Tobacco, which has been grown in Zimbabwe for over 100 years has been the country’s largest export earner accounting for a third of all foreign currency earnings. Almost 99 percent of the crop is exported to 69 different countries.
Tobacco is sold by auction at some of the largest tobacco auction floors in the world. The selling season runs from March/April to October.
The other main exports are sugar and cotton. Horticulture is growing rapidly and Zimbabwe is one of the world’s exporters of roses
The horticultural sector continues to expand, producing flowers, fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices, essential oils and nuts for export.
Zimbabwe’s climate and soil types facilitate the production of tropical and temperate crops as wells as fruits and vegetables whose quality do not require chemical fertiliser.
The cut flower sector accounts for about 57 percent of the total value of horticultural exports with roses being the single most important product. In addition to fresh produce, Zimbabwe also exports frozen vegetables and fruits.
A recent trend has been production in greenhouses, with many growers located near Harare. More investment in air-freight capacity is needed to cope with this phenomenal growth.
Cattle rearing is one of the country’s foremost economic activities. Zimbabwean livestock is, however, under constant threat from the tsetse fly, and foot and mouth disease.
This problem is being addressed by a vaccination campaign.
Agriculture in Zimbabwe provides many raw materials required by the manufacturing sector. It has been the main contributor to the growth rate and employs about 30 percent of the working population.
Zimbabwe’s economy substantially revolves around the agricultural sector.
While this sector’s position is under threat from other sectors of the economy, it is key to the country’s economic system and will continue to be so in the future.