More than 188 000 farming households across Zimbabwe have benefited from the Zimbabwe Emergency Food Production Project, a four-year initiative funded by the AfDB that has supported record wheat harvests, expanded climate-smart agriculture and improved access to agricultural finance.
The programme, funded through a $25 million grant from AfDB’s Transitional Support Facility, was implemented in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
Launched in 2022 in response to food security threats linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and global supply chain disruptions, the project concluded on June 30, 2026.
The initiative provided quality agricultural inputs, extension services and improved farming technologies while promoting climate-smart agricultural practices across 153 000 hectares of farmland.
The programme also boosted production of drought-tolerant maize and sunflower seeds and contributed to average wheat yields of five tonnes per hectare.
One of the project’s flagship components was a Seed Revolving Fund implemented through AFC Land and Development Bank. The facility supported more than 90 957 farmers, including 33 108 women, and achieved a loan repayment rate of more than 90%.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Obert Jiri said the programme demonstrated the importance of farmer-driven development. “The Seed Revolving Fund is the blueprint for breaking the cycle of dependency and fostering genuine farmer ownership.”
Jiri added: “This is not merely the conclusion of a $25 million project, it is a celebration of resilience, a testament to the power of strategic partnerships, and a foundational milestone on our transformative journey towards Vision 2030.”
Unlike many emergency agricultural interventions, the project adopted a broader approach that included access to finance, digital services, post-harvest management and institutional strengthening.
AfDB Country Manager for Zimbabwe Eyerusalem Fasika said the project exceeded its original targets. “Against a target of 180 000 farmers, this project reached over 188 000, with women making up 60% of beneficiaries, well above our 40% target.”
Fasika added: “These are not just numbers on a page; they represent farming families who adopted new practices, accessed financing, and are now reaping the rewards in their harvests.”
The project also modernised agricultural services through the Identification, Delivery and Empowerment Application farmer registry platform, creating a digital database to support extension services and agricultural planning.
To reduce post-harvest losses, the programme supplied grain silos, threshers, moisture meters and oil-processing equipment. Support to the Seed Services Institute and Crop Breeding Institute also helped strengthen domestic seed production and reduce dependence on imports.
A separate credit guarantee facility managed by the Africa Fertiliser Financing Mechanism and Fertiliser and Seeds Group exceeded its original $15 million target by generating more than $44 million in fertiliser sales and distributing over 80 000 tonnes of fertiliser through private-sector partners.
FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Representative to Zimbabwe Patrice Talla said the programme had evolved beyond emergency support. “For FAO, this project evolved from a rapid response into a transformative initiative with impacts extending well beyond emergency support.”
Talla added: “The project made a significant contribution to building more resilient, inclusive and market-oriented agrifood systems while laying a strong foundation for sustainable agricultural transformation and food security in Zimbabwe.”
–AfDB/ChannelAfrica–
