2026., Trade Dynamics in the 21st Century: The African Perspective, Clainos Chidoko, Ledwin Chimwai
Download citation file:
Land, Agriculture and Food Security Policies in Zimbabwe
| Period | Sector | Policy | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980–1990 | Land Agriculture | Willing buyer, willing seller resettlement programme High regulation and control policies (restricted the trading of cereal grains to be centrally carried out by the Grain Marketing Board) | Government distributed 2.46 million hectares in first five years to model 12-acre schemes, which became successful Maintaining the dual agricultural system. Continuation of the pre-independence government controls, with bias towards black small-scale and communal farmers (these received subsidised inputs and protected marketing). National food security was a priority |
| 1991–1998 | Land Agriculture Food security | Compulsory land acquisition Liberalised policies No official policy | This was meant to receive donor support but the support was not forthcoming Resettlement programme was very slow and far off target Trade liberalisation begins, founded in the macroeconomic reforms’ proposed market-based economy. Abandonment of controls and subsidies, although the grain sector remained partially controlled. The start of efforts to write national agricultural policies Government prioritises food security by controlling trade in grains and funding relief aid (with help of NGOs) in years of drought |
| 1995 | Agriculture | Zimbabwe agricultural policy framework and Strategy, 1995–2020 | Assuring national and household food and nutrition security Ensuring the existing agricultural resource base is maintained and improved Generate income and employment to feasible optimum levels. Increase agriculture’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) Contribute to sustainable industrial development through the provision of home-grown agricultural raw materials Expand significantly the sector’s contribution to the national balance of payments |
| 2000–2008 | Land Agriculture Food security | Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) Return of regularisation No official policy | Politically motivated land invasions. Land taken by blacks in two years alone Production falls drastically after the FTLRP. All efforts to craft national policy fail and the government becomes highly involved in trade regulation again. The central bank bankrolls national agricultural projects and marketing of most produce (cereals are tightly controlled) Severely reduced agricultural production and lack of funds dampen national food security programmes. Government relies on the World Food Programme (WFP) |
| 2009–2011 | Agriculture | Mixed approach | Government partly liberalises agricultural trade again. Grain trade uncontrolled for the first time. Government funds input projects to communal and resettled farmers. Non-governmental organisations also assist |
| 2012–2017 | Agriculture | Mixed approach under Zim-ASSET food security and nutrition cluster (2013) and comprehensive agricultural policy (2012) focusing on increasing crop productivity and production and increasing crop diversification | Government introduces Maguta programme. This was also coupled by the Presidential Input Scheme during the period (2015) that benefitted 300,000 small scale farmers from $28 million facility. This was followed by command agriculture. There is support of farmers through availing inputs Setting up an agriculture fund to subsidise inputs Promotion of sustainable agricultural production including conservation agriculture techniques Diversify cropping patterns at national level through supporting the production of small grains especially in the drought prone areas |
| 2018 | Agriculture | Zimbabwe agricultural framework (2018–2030) | Mechanisation and development of agricultural infrastructure Increasing production and supply of agricultural inputs Marketing and trade development Increasing access to finance and credit Land tenure |
| Period | Sector | Policy | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980–1990 | Land Agriculture | Willing buyer, willing seller resettlement programme High regulation and control policies (restricted the trading of cereal grains to be centrally carried out by the Grain Marketing Board) | Government distributed 2.46 million hectares in first five years to model 12-acre schemes, which became successful Maintaining the dual agricultural system. Continuation of the pre-independence government controls, with bias towards black small-scale and communal farmers (these received subsidised inputs and protected marketing). National food security was a priority |
| 1991–1998 | Land Agriculture Food security | Compulsory land acquisition Liberalised policies No official policy | This was meant to receive donor support but the support was not forthcoming Resettlement programme was very slow and far off target Trade liberalisation begins, founded in the macroeconomic reforms’ proposed market-based economy. Abandonment of controls and subsidies, although the grain sector remained partially controlled. The start of efforts to write national agricultural policies Government prioritises food security by controlling trade in grains and funding relief aid (with help of NGOs) in years of drought |
| 1995 | Agriculture | Zimbabwe agricultural policy framework and Strategy, 1995–2020 | Assuring national and household food and nutrition security Ensuring the existing agricultural resource base is maintained and improved Generate income and employment to feasible optimum levels. Increase agriculture’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) Contribute to sustainable industrial development through the provision of home-grown agricultural raw materials Expand significantly the sector’s contribution to the national balance of payments |
| 2000–2008 | Land Agriculture Food security | Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) Return of regularisation No official policy | Politically motivated land invasions. Land taken by blacks in two years alone Production falls drastically after the FTLRP. All efforts to craft national policy fail and the government becomes highly involved in trade regulation again. The central bank bankrolls national agricultural projects and marketing of most produce (cereals are tightly controlled) Severely reduced agricultural production and lack of funds dampen national food security programmes. Government relies on the World Food Programme (WFP) |
| 2009–2011 | Agriculture | Mixed approach | Government partly liberalises agricultural trade again. Grain trade uncontrolled for the first time. Government funds input projects to communal and resettled farmers. Non-governmental organisations also assist |
| 2012–2017 | Agriculture | Mixed approach under Zim-ASSET food security and nutrition cluster (2013) and comprehensive agricultural policy (2012) focusing on increasing crop productivity and production and increasing crop diversification | Government introduces Setting up an agriculture fund to subsidise inputs Promotion of sustainable agricultural production including conservation agriculture techniques Diversify cropping patterns at national level through supporting the production of small grains especially in the drought prone areas |
| 2018 | Agriculture | Zimbabwe agricultural framework (2018–2030) | Mechanisation and development of agricultural infrastructure Increasing production and supply of agricultural inputs Marketing and trade development Increasing access to finance and credit Land tenure |
