Zimbabwe Sets 662,500-Tonne Wheat Target for 2026, Exceeding Annual Needs of 615,000 Tonnes

Zimbabwe has set a wheat production target for 2026 of 125,000 hectares under cultivation, aiming for an output of 662,500 tonnes. This projected yield exceeds the country's annual requirement of 615,000 tonnes. AllAfrica reported these details from a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Agriculture Minister Anxious Jongwe Masuka stated that the government will closely monitor critical inputs including electricity, water, seed, fertiliser and fuel to ensure a successful 2026 wheat season. He added that farmers will receive support through financing, insurance, mechanisation and risk management systems. These measures aim to build on recent production growth.

The country's wheat production growth in recent years was driven by expanded irrigation. Farmers have increasingly relied on irrigated land to stabilise yields amid changing weather patterns, according to AllAfrica.

Farmers in Zimbabwe report delays in payments for grain deliveries. They also cite rising costs linked to prepaid electricity needed for irrigation. Limited access to combine harvesters has slowed wheat harvesting in Zimbabwe during the winter window.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce confirmed plans to establish a US$200 million nitrogen fertiliser plant to be developed by Xintai. Construction of the plant is expected to begin in June 2026. Operations are projected to begin in 2027.

The nitrogen fertiliser plant is set to produce 200,000 tonnes of urea and 200,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate annually. Zimbabwe spent approximately US$331 million on fertiliser imports in 2024, with nitrogen-based products accounting for the largest share. Increased domestic production is expected to reduce import dependence and lower input costs for farmers, AllAfrica reported.