Collaboration marks 2024-25 agric season launch

ZIMBABWE’s agriculture sector is poised for a transformative season as stakeholders prepare to launch the 2024-25 summer farming programme today, at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) Business Hub in Harare.

The event, bankrolled by the leading Pan-African financial services provider Ecobank Zimbabwe, is set to underscore collaboration and unity as the cornerstones for achieving national food security and economic growth.
Organised by ZAS in partnership with The Financial Gazette and the Agriculture ministry, the breakfast event will bring together key players from the sector.
The theme, ‘Growing Zimbabwe Together,’ resonates with the national philosophy of unity in building the country, with stakeholders aligning efforts to ensure a successful farming season.

Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka

Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka, will officiate the launch, which will serve as a platform for stakeholders to share perspectives and strategies to boost agricultural productivity.
“We are very excited to see collaboration in action among Zimbabwe’s agriculture stakeholders ahead of the crucial 2024-2025 farming season whose prospects look bright,” said ZAS chief executive, Andrew Matibiri.
The event has drawn interest from influential organisations, including the Grain Marketing Board, Zimbabwe Farmers Union, Zimbabwe Seed Traders Association, and the Fertiliser Manufacturers Association, among others.
Matibiri implored all stakeholders to unite, emphasising that collaboration would be pivotal in addressing challenges and unlocking opportunities within the sector.
As Zimbabwe’s largest GDP contributor, agriculture accounts for 17 percent of the economy, supports 67 percent of national livelihoods, and provides 63 percent of raw materials to the manufacturing sector. It remains the anchor of the nation’s aspirations, including job creation, industrialisation, and the attainment of food security.
In 2020, President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy, a blueprint designed to grow the sector into an $8,2 billion economy by 2025, contributing 20 percent to GDP. President Mnangagwa stressed the importance of a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach, and the upcoming farming season reflects these priorities.
The strategy also aligns with Vision 2030, which aims to position Zimbabwe as an upper-middle-income economy. Government and private sector partnerships are central to achieving this vision, fostering increased productivity, enhanced investment, and sustainable land utilisation.
Ecobank Zimbabwe’s sponsorship of the farming season launch highlights the bank’s commitment to driving national development.
Managing Director, Moses Kurenjekwa, reaffirmed this dedication.
“As a Pan-African bank, it remains our commitment to propel the African agenda, and our participation in the Zimbabwe farming season launch through sponsorship is our humble way of promoting the attainment of national food security for everyone.”
The bank’s investment reflects its broader mission to support sustainable communities and promote inclusive development in line with global sustainability protocols.
The Financial Gazette’s Managing Director, Lewis Chikurunhe, commended this initiative, saying: “We commend Ecobank Zimbabwe for anchoring the country’s efforts towards improved productivity for food security in the 2024-2025 farming season. Your investment in this national cause will truly transform Zimbabwe’s agriculture fortunes.”
The farming season launch is more than a ceremonial event; it is a critical forum to inform, educate, and inspire stakeholders. The emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and resource mobilisation reflects the sector’s systematic importance to Zimbabwe’s food systems and industrial value chains.
The forthcoming season also ties into the National Development Strategy (NDSI), which seeks to elevate the sector to a $13,5 billion economy. By prioritising food security and sustainable agriculture, Zimbabwe is building a robust foundation for prosperity.
As preparations gather pace, Matibiri highlighted the value of unity and shared purpose.
“With the leading Pan-African Bank on our side, preparations for the 2024-25 summer farming season are gathering pace. National agriculture stakeholders commend Ecobank Zimbabwe for making this imperative season’s preparatory interface possible.”