Zimbabwe has called for a major shift in food production systems across Eastern and Southern Africa, warning that climate change is worsening hunger, environmental degradation and rural poverty in the region.
Speaking at the 2026 Regional Circular Food Systems Policy Dialogue in Bulawayo on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources Development Davis Marapira said countries must urgently move away from resource-intensive farming models and adopt circular food systems that are more sustainable and climate resilient.
The meeting was held under the theme: “Advancing Climate Resilient, Resource Efficient Farming in Eastern and Southern Africa.”
“We are meeting at a critical moment for Eastern and Southern Africa,” Marapira said.
“Our region faces escalating climate risks, including higher temperatures, erratic rainfall and more frequent droughts and floods, which are already devastating food security and rural livelihoods.”
He said climate change was having its greatest impact on rain-fed smallholder farming systems, where repeated dry spells continue to disrupt agricultural production.
“Southern Africa, in particular, is a recognised hotspot where climate change is a primary driver of low agricultural productivity and hunger,” he said.
“To address this, we must delink agricultural production from rainfall through accelerated irrigation development and the widespread adoption of conservation agriculture.”
Marapira said many food systems in the region remained heavily dependent on external inputs and followed a “linear” model that led to food waste, nutrient loss and environmental damage.
“The question is no longer whether we must change, but how we change, decisively and at scale,” he said.
He praised the Circular Food Systems in Africa Project, led by Australian National University with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, for helping develop practical solutions for climate-resilient agriculture.
The project works with regional partners including the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Ardhi University, Eduardo Mondlane University and Mozambique’s National Institute of Irrigation.
According to Marapira, research from the project shows that circular food systems based on agroecological principles, integrating crops, livestock and recycled resources, can improve productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation.
He said pilot projects in Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe had already shown that combining irrigation innovation with stronger local governance and enterprise development could improve productivity and resilience in smallholder farming communities.
Marapira said discussions at the policy dialogue were centred on five main areas: technological and governance innovation, the Water-Energy-Food-Health nexus, youth empowerment, entrepreneurial development and investment in small businesses.
He also highlighted Zimbabwe’s Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2, which aims to grow the country’s agricultural economy from US$10.3bn to US$15.8bn by 2030.
“Our five impact areas are food security and sovereignty, nutrition security, improved livelihoods, agriculture-led economic growth and land tenure security,” he said.
Zimbabwe is also targeting a reduction in child stunting from 24% to 20% by 2030, while increasing the proportion of children receiving a minimum acceptable diet from 12% to 25%.
“Circular food systems with diverse crops and integrated livestock are essential to achieving these goals,” Marapira said.
He said the country planned to expand irrigation development to 496,000 hectares by 2030, increase adoption of conservation agriculture and complete nine major dams under its Infrastructure 6.0 programme.
“These are not just Zimbabwean targets, but potential blueprints for regional action,” he said.
Zimbabwe also hopes to reduce pre- and post-harvest food losses from 16.5% to 6% through improved storage facilities, agro-processing hubs and cold chain systems.
Marapira pointed to the country’s Rural Development 8.0 programme as an example of circular economy principles already being implemented through solar-powered irrigation schemes, fish farming and livestock projects.
“Across every pillar, we are mainstreaming women and youth,” he said.
He urged investors and development partners attending the conference to support the identified priority areas and called on delegates to move beyond discussion towards concrete action.
“This dialogue must not be merely a talk show,” he said.
“I challenge you to move beyond discussion and co-develop an actionable policy and investment roadmap.”
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