The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is providing significant technical assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe in preparing for its first-ever National Agricultural and Livestock Census (NALC). This collaboration aims to address the critical gap in agricultural data, which is essential for evidence-based policy formulation and agricultural transformation. The initiative is designed to strengthen Zimbabwe’s agricultural data systems, ensuring that the country can make informed decisions to enhance food security and nutrition for its population.
One of the key objectives of this project is to develop a comprehensive National Agricultural and Livestock Census Plan of Action. FAO is also assisting the government in updating its national food balance sheet (FBS), which tracks the availability of food for human consumption, including key nutrients such as calories, fats, minerals, proteins, vitamins, and other micro and macro nutrients. This updated data will support the government’s food security and nutrition policies, helping to ensure that the population’s dietary needs are met.
The NALC will serve as a vital statistical tool for the government, providing a detailed snapshot of the current state of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. It will establish a baseline for various agricultural subsectors, enabling the government to monitor and evaluate changes over time. Furthermore, the census will create a solid sampling frame for future agricultural surveys, ensuring that subsequent data collection efforts are based on a robust and reliable foundation.
This effort is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Zimbabwe’s agricultural data systems, which have historically been underdeveloped. Since the country has never conducted a comprehensive agricultural census since its independence, there is a significant lack of updated structural data. This has hindered the effective design and implementation of agricultural surveys, as well as the development of policies that address the country’s food security challenges. By conducting the NALC, Zimbabwe will be able to fill these gaps and improve its capacity to generate high-quality agricultural statistics.
FAO’s support is crucial in addressing the limited statistical capacity in Zimbabwe. The organization has mobilized resources to design and implement a Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) that will provide the necessary technical assistance. The development of the NALC project document and the update of the national food balance sheet are key activities under this project. These efforts are aligned with Zimbabwe’s Strategic Plan for Agricultural and Rural Statistics (2025-2029) and the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (2022-2026), which aim to improve the country’s statistical infrastructure and enhance the quality of its agricultural data.
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) is playing a leading role in this initiative, prioritizing the production of high-quality agricultural statistics to support effective decision-making and policy formulation. ZIMSTAT recognizes that accurate and up-to-date data is essential for addressing the challenges facing Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, including food security, agricultural production, and rural development. The development of the NALC project document is a critical step in ensuring that the census is well-planned and effectively implemented. It will also serve as a resource mobilization tool, helping ZIMSTAT secure the necessary support and funding for the successful execution of the census.
The draft NALC project document is scheduled to be presented and validated by key stakeholders from both the government and the donor community on 30 January 2025. This validation process is an important milestone, as it will ensure that the project document meets the needs of all stakeholders and provides a clear framework for the planning and execution of the census. Once validated, the project document will be used to mobilize the resources needed to carry out the NALC.
The successful implementation of the NALC will provide Zimbabwe with the data needed to address its agricultural and food security challenges. It will also contribute to the country’s broader development goals by improving the availability and quality of agricultural statistics. With the support of FAO and other development partners, Zimbabwe is poised to make significant strides in transforming its agricultural sector and ensuring food security for its population.
