Zimbabwe is poised for a dramatic turnaround in maize production this year, anticipating a yield of nearly 2.93 million metric tons, up sharply from 635,000 metric tons in 2024.
The forecast, announced by Information Minister Jenfan Muswere at a post-cabinet briefing in Harare, follows improved rainfall patterns after last year’s crippling El Niño-induced drought. Maize remains a staple crop for the country, which requires approximately 2.2 million metric tons annually to meet its food security needs.
The Government has committed to supporting the Grain Marketing Board to ensure timely payments for maize deliveries from farmers. Last year’s drought devastated cereal production and plunged over 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s population into food insecurity, prompting President Emmerson Mnangagwa to declare a national disaster and appeal for over \$3 billion in aid. Encouragingly, international bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program have since removed Zimbabwe from their global hunger hotspots, signalling cautious optimism as the agricultural sector begins to recover.