In 2024, the cooperation between China and Zimbabwe in the agricultural sector has reached significant milestones, marking a year of enhanced collaboration in a key sector of Zimbabwe’s economy.
The agriculture sector is vital to Zimbabwe, sustaining over 60 percent of the population, providing 63 percent of raw materials for the manufacturing sector, generating 30 percent of export earnings, and contributing 15 percent to the nation’s GDP. As a result, any advancement in this sector is crucial for the country’s economic development.
Trade between China and Zimbabwe has seen considerable growth in 2024, with China expanding its support for Zimbabwe’s agricultural development, including technical expertise and human resource training. A major highlight of this year’s cooperation was the signing of a trade protocol during Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s state visit to China in September, which allowed the export of Zimbabwean avocados to China. This agreement came ahead of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, further strengthening the trade ties between the two countries.
Rodwell Choto, an avocado farmer from Bindura, expressed optimism about the prospects of increased exports to China, which would bring much-needed foreign currency to Zimbabwe. As a result, avocado farmers in Zimbabwe are expanding their production to meet the anticipated demand. The country’s avocado industry is projected to produce a record 6,000 metric tons in 2024, with the growing area set to expand from 1,500 hectares to 4,000 hectares by 2030. This growth follows a similar agreement in 2022 that allowed Zimbabwe to export fresh citrus to China, with the first shipment taking place in 2023.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry, another crucial economic sector, has also benefited from China’s market access. Tobacco is a major foreign currency earner for Zimbabwe, and in 2024, exports to China increased by 38.3 percent, reaching 790 million U.S. dollars in the first nine months of the year. This accounted for over 40 percent of Zimbabwe’s total exports to China. Overall, trade between the two countries grew by 25.6 percent, reaching a total of 3 billion dollars in the same period.
Despite these successes, Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector has faced significant challenges in 2024 due to a severe drought that has caused crop failures and livestock losses. In response, China launched a project to drill 300 boreholes across four provinces of Zimbabwe. These boreholes are expected to provide safe water to affected communities, support livestock, and help build resilience against the current El Nino-induced drought. This initiative is a critical step in mitigating the effects of the drought and supporting Zimbabwe’s agricultural recovery.
China’s support for Zimbabwe’s agriculture extends beyond infrastructure projects. The two countries have also focused on human resource development, with Zimbabwean officials and professionals attending various seminars and workshops in China. These programs have equipped Zimbabwean professionals with the skills needed to modernize the country’s agricultural practices. Jotamu Dondofema, director of agricultural education in Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, highlighted the benefits of these initiatives, noting that they have led to improved agricultural technologies, the establishment of renewable energy sources, and the promotion of sustainable practices.
The collaboration between China and Zimbabwe in the agricultural sector in 2024 has not only opened new markets for Zimbabwean products but has also helped improve the capacity of Zimbabwe’s agricultural workforce. With continued support, Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector is poised for further growth and development, contributing to the country’s broader economic recovery.
