Arabfields, Maleeka Kassou, East, West and Central Africa Agriculture Correspondent — Zimbabwe is placing greater emphasis on indigenous seeds and traditional crops as the country seeks to strengthen food security, improve climate resilience and reduce the vulnerability of farmers to increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.

The government has welcomed the recent National Seed Fair in Harare, describing the event as closely aligned with the priorities of the National Development Strategy 2, which covers the 2026 to 2030 period and places agriculture, food security, sustainable resource management and climate resilience among its key development priorities.

The seed fair, hosted by the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management network on September 18, brought together farmers, seed custodians and agricultural organisations showcasing traditional varieties, locally produced foods and farming knowledge passed down through generations.

For many smallholder farmers, the issue is more immediate than government policy. Access to seed that can perform under difficult local conditions can determine whether a household produces enough food for its own consumption or has to rely more heavily on purchases from the market.

Zimbabwe is entering the 2026/27 agricultural season with renewed concerns over weather conditions. The government and agricultural stakeholders are preparing for the possibility of an El Niño-related dry spell, increasing pressure on farmers to select crops and varieties capable of coping with water shortages.

This is where indigenous seed systems are gaining renewed attention. Traditional crops such as sorghum, finger millet, pearl millet, cowpeas and Bambara nuts are generally better adapted to Zimbabwe’s varied climatic conditions and can provide farmers with alternatives when rainfall becomes unreliable.

The government’s position also reflects a broader continental shift. The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Strategy and Action Plan for 2026 to 2035 places food and nutrition security at the centre of its agenda, while encouraging greater diversification of agricultural production and increased consumption of nutritious traditional and indigenous African crops.

The economic argument is becoming increasingly important. Zimbabwe is seeking to move beyond dependence on a limited number of agricultural commodities and develop more resilient domestic food systems while creating opportunities for value addition.

The country’s agricultural investment pipeline illustrates the scale of that ambition. Zimbabwe is preparing a $1.65 billion portfolio of agrifood investment opportunities for the 2026 FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. The projects cover maize, soyabean, blueberries, dairy and water infrastructure, with investment opportunities extending from irrigation and mechanisation to seed breeding, soil health and climate-resilient production.

Maize remains particularly important. The FAO estimates that Zimbabwe’s domestic maize demand is around 2.4 million tonnes a year, while an investment case worth about $468 million has been identified to improve production and close supply gaps.

The renewed focus on indigenous seeds could complement these larger commercial investments rather than compete with them. A more diversified farming system could help spread climate and market risks while improving access to nutritious foods in rural communities.

At the recent seed fair, government officials stressed that protecting seed diversity is not simply a cultural exercise. It is increasingly being viewed as an economic and food-security strategy in a country exposed to drought, variable rainfall and land degradation.

For farmers such as those who continue to conserve traditional varieties, the value of the seed is measured in practical terms. A variety that survives a difficult season can provide food, seed for the following year and, in some cases, an additional source of income.

The next challenge will be turning political support into sustained investment. Seed banks, farmer-led seed exchanges, agricultural research and extension services will need stronger financing if Zimbabwe is to preserve local varieties while making them more accessible to commercial and smallholder farmers.

If the current policy direction continues, indigenous crops could play a larger role in Zimbabwe’s agricultural strategy through 2030. Greater investment in drought-tolerant varieties, local seed systems and value-added processing could help reduce exposure to climate shocks while creating new opportunities for rural producers.

The immediate test will come during the 2026/27 farming season. If rainfall becomes erratic, farmers with access to a wider range of locally adapted seeds could be better positioned to protect production.

For Zimbabwe, the seed debate is therefore becoming part of a much bigger economic question, how to build an agricultural system capable of feeding a growing population while remaining productive in a harsher and less predictable climate.