Browse Data and Analysis

Zimbabwe’s production of its staple crop, corn, is expected to drop by almost 60 percent in marketing year 2024/25 due to extreme drought conditions associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Eswatini sugar cane production in MY 2023/24 was affected by unfavorable climatic conditions and proliferation of the yellow aphid leaf. This affected cane production and quality resulting to the season ending earlier than normal.

Cane production in Zimbabwe is forecast to increase in MY 2024/25, as major dams have sufficient volumes to supply irrigation water to cane-producing regions. Production will also be supported by carry-over cane due to the late start to the MY 2023/24 harvests after a contractual dispute between growers and millers.

Zimbabwe’s corn crop for marketing year 2023/24 is estimated at 1.5 million metric tons. This represents an increase of five percent from the previous marketing year’s crop, mainly due to a normal rainfall season in the northern parts of the country.

Post forecasts Zimbabwe’s sugar cane production will increase by 1 percent to 3.5 million metric tons (MT) in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 based on a return to normal weather conditions, the availability of sufficient irrigation water, and an increase in planted area.

Post forecasts sugar cane production in Eswatini will increase by 1.5 percent to 5.6 million MT in MY 2023/24, based on increased available irrigation water, expanded planted area, and a return to trend yields.

Zimbabwe’s corn crop for marketing year (MY) 2022/23 is estimated at 1.6 million metric tons (MMT), representing a drop of 43 percent from the bumper crop of 2.7 MMT produced in MY 2021/22. Many factors contributed to the drop in production including sub-optimal weather conditions, high input costs and macro-economic challenges.

Post forecasts that sugar cane production in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) will increase by 2 percent, to 5.3 million metric tons (MT) in the 2022/23 MY, based on good rainfall, increased available irrigation water, normal weather conditions, expanded planted area and consistent cane yields.

Post forecasts that sugar cane production in Zimbabwe will increase by 4 percent to 3.7 million metric tons (MT) in the 2022/23 marketing year (MY), based on normal weather conditions, availability of sufficient irrigation water, and an increase in area planted.

This is the first Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) Country Report for Zimbabwe. The report includes an assessment of laws and import requirements for food and agricultural products.

Zimbabwe’s corn crop for the 2021/22 marketing year (MY) is estimated at 2.7 million tons, an increase of almost 200 percent from the 907,628 tons of corn produced in the 2020/21 MY.

Post forecasts that sugar cane production in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) will increase marginally by 1 percent to 6.1 million Metric Tons (MT) in the 2021/22 Marketing Year (MY), based on good rainfall, increased available irrigation water, normal weather conditions, growth in the area planted and consistent cane yields.