By Conrad Mwanawashe
AS Zimbabwe transitions from the stabilisation phase of National Development Strategy (NDS1) into the growth-oriented era of the National Development Strategy 2 (2026–2030), the agricultural sector stands as the primary engine for this economic metamorphosis.
No longer viewed merely as a source of subsistence, agriculture is being recalibrated as a sophisticated, agro-industrial business ecosystem designed to drive the nation towards an Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030.
The narrative of NDS2 is clear: the focus has shifted from simply “growing food” to building complex, high-value supply chains that integrate rural production with global markets.
The Strategic Pivot: From Production to Processing
The core of this strategy lies in the “Economic Transformation” priority, which seeks to move the economy up the value chain.
The NDS2 document explicitly targets the restructuring of the economy from a primary commodity-based model to a diversified, industrialised powerhouse.
“NDS 2 will prioritise industrialisation, modernisation, value addition and beneficiation predominantly of agricultural and mineral commodities, as well as promotion of rural industrialisation through establishment of Village Business Units in rural communities,” the document says.
NDS 2 Objectives
NDS 2 overarching objectives that will guide the country’s developmental agenda over the next five years are to:
(i) Sustain a stable and predictable macro-economic environment that promotes investment, innovation, productivity and resilience, while strengthening, diversifying and deepening the financial sector to enhance domestic resource mobilisation and broaden financial inclusion.
(ii) Transform the economy from a primary commodity-based to a diversified, broad-based, modern upper middle-income country through accelerating value addition and beneficiation.
(iii) Develop a strong, modern and resilient infrastructure backbone across all sectors of the economy to support productivity and sustainable socio-economic development.
(iv) Increase agricultural productivity to achieve food and nutrition security, promote sustainable agro-processing value chains as well as strengthen climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
(v) Promote science, technology, innovation and human capital development to build a knowledge-driven and digitally enabled economy.
(vi) Strengthen and entrench devolution and decentralisation to promote balanced regional development and inclusive participation for equitable and inclusive national development.
(vii) Accelerate job creation, youth development and entrepreneurship to reduce unemployment and promote sport participation, creative and cultural industries.
(viii) Enhance social development, gender equality and social protection to promote equity and universal access to quality health and social services.
(ix) Enhance Brand Zimbabwe, strengthen international relations and regional integration, attract foreign direct investment, promote tourism and advance diplomatic and trade development to achieve sustainable socio-economic development.
(x) Strengthen governance and security institutions to promote peace, stability and social cohesion.
This pivot is driven by the realisation that sustainable growth requires value addition. In the Lowveld, NDS 2 interventions will see transformation.
Leveraging Tugwi-Mukosi Water
In the Lowveld, NDS 2 interventions will see transformation of Masvingo Province into an agricultural and agro-industrial powerhouse, with a vast green-belt irrigated by Tugwi-Mukosi dam.
The Integrated Lowveld Irrigation Development Masterplan targets development of a 200 000-hectare green corridor to spur large scale food production, agro-processing and rural industrialisation across the southern lowveld.
Diverse Indicators of Growth
The NDS2 framework introduces a robust set of indicators to measure this success, moving beyond simple tonnage to more granular economic metrics. The strategy emphasizes the diversification of the agricultural basket.
For the livestock sub-sector, the indicators focus on genetic improvement and commercial viability. The strategy explicitly targets “Beef, Mashona Breeding Stock, and Goats” as key trade opportunities. This signals a policy intent to revive the national herd not just for food security, but as a competitive export product, leveraging Zimbabwe’s favourable climatic conditions for cattle ranching.
Infrastructure as the Enabler
To support these ambitious production indicators, NDS2 prioritises the hardware of agriculture: water and energy. The strategy acknowledges that climate change poses a significant risk to rain-fed agriculture.
Consequently, “Irrigation Infrastructure” and “Solar Farms” are listed as critical investment opportunities. The goal is to “climate-proof” the sector, ensuring that production indicators are met regardless of seasonal rainfall variability.
Furthermore, the document links agricultural success to broader infrastructure projects. The completion of the “Gwayi-Shangani Dam” is showcased as a flagship enabler, aimed at unlocking a greenbelt of irrigated agriculture in the Matabeleland region. This project is vital for transforming the arid regions into productive zones for high-value crops like citrus and pecan nuts.
Regional Opportunities and Devolution
NDS2 also decentralises these agricultural indicators, mapping specific crops to their ecological regions to ensure maximum efficiency. The “Zimbabwe Opportunities Map” visually allocates resources, such as “Marula Value Chain” and “Exotic Leather” to specific provinces, ensuring that no region is left behind.
This approach dovetails with the Devolution and Decentralisation priority, empowering local communities to manage and benefit from their unique agricultural endowments.
By 2030, the success of NDS2 will not be measured solely by the number of grain silos filled, but by the percentage of agricultural output that is processed domestically. The transition detailed in the document—from the fields of sesame and cotton to the canning plants and textile factories—represents a bold reimagining of Zimbabwean agriculture. It is a business plan for a nation ready to feed itself and trade with the world on its own terms.
