Government, TAAT and Partners Conclude Landmark National Seed Business Summit in Harare

Zimbabwe has taken a major step toward building a resilient, climate-smart and investment-ready agricultural sector following the successful conclusion of the National Seed Business Summit and Seed Roadmap Workshop held from 19–21 May 2026 at Cresta Lodge, Msasa, Harare.

Convened by the Republic of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development (MAMWRD), in partnership with the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme and CGIAR-led partners, the summit brought together government institutions, private seed companies, farmers’ organisations, development finance institutions, research institutions, agro-dealers, women and youth groups, and international development partners to strengthen Zimbabwe’s seed systems for agricultural transformation.

Held under the theme “Strengthening Seed Systems for Agricultural Transformation,” the summit culminated in the development of a draft 5-year Zimbabwe Seed Roadmap and Investment Plan focused on seven strategic value chains: wheat, maize, soybean, common beans, sorghum, millet, and groundnut.

A Strategic Response to Food Security and Climate Challenges

The summit was convened against the backdrop of growing pressure on Africa’s food systems caused by climate change, conflicts, pests and diseases, and global economic shocks. Participants acknowledged the transformative role played by the African Development Bank‘s African Emergency Food Production Facility (AEFPF), implemented through TAAT and CGIAR partners, in helping African countries strengthen seed systems and boost food production.

Zimbabwe’s participation at the Dakar II Food Summit in Senegal in 2023 provided additional momentum for the country’s food sovereignty agenda. The summit reinforced Zimbabwe’s commitment to implementing its Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compact, Vision 2030, National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), and Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS 2).

Key Gains from the Summit

One of the summit’s most important outcomes was the collaborative drafting of a national seed roadmap and investment framework designed to guide Zimbabwe’s seed sector over the next five years.

The roadmap identifies critical interventions across seed policy and regulatory reform, early generation seed systems, certified seed production and distribution, climate-smart and stress-tolerant varieties, seed quality assurance and certification, farmer awareness and adoption, rural infrastructure and market systems, investment mobilisation, and public-private partnerships.

The roadmap is expected to serve as a strategic framework for coordinated investments and stakeholder alignment across Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.

Stronger Public-Private Partnerships

The summit strengthened collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, seed companies, farmer organisations and development partners.

Participants reaffirmed the importance of coordinated action involving the Seed Services Institute, the Department of Research, Education and Specialist Services (DRESS), AGRITEX, the Zimbabwe Seed Association (ZSA), private seed companies, universities and research institutions, women- and youth-led farmer organisations, financial institutions, and development agencies.

The summit also reinforced Zimbabwe’s position as one of Africa’s strongest-performing seed sectors, currently ranked fifth on the African Union Seed Sector Performance Index (SSPI).

Renewed Focus on Climate-Resilient Crops

Deliberations highlighted the urgent need to scale climate-resilient and drought-tolerant crops, especially traditional grains such as sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet.

Participants noted the increasing strategic importance of these crops due to rising climate variability, their nutritional benefits, drought tolerance, suitability for low-rainfall areas, and growing market demand under local grain sourcing policies.

TAAT Compact leaders showcased innovations already contributing to increased productivity and resilience across Africa’s farming systems.

Showcasing TAAT Technologies and Innovations

Technical sessions demonstrated how TAAT-promoted technologies are already delivering impact in Zimbabwe and across the continent.

Among the major highlights the release and scaling of the heat- and drought-tolerant wheat variety “SAVE”, deployment of climate-smart maize hybrids and Fall Armyworm management technologies, promotion of Integrated Crop Management practices for beans, expansion of soybean seed systems and value-chain partnerships, scaling of improved sorghum and millet varieties by ICRISAT, and strengthening groundnut seed multiplication and post-harvest systems.

The summit also provided a platform for peer learning from TAAT’s successful seed roadmap processes implemented in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Guinea, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya.

Commodity-Specific Priorities Identified

Through structured breakout sessions, stakeholders identified major opportunities and bottlenecks affecting each commodity value chain.

Wheat

Participants focused on sustaining Zimbabwe’s wheat self-sufficiency through expanded irrigation, certified seed production and scaling climate-resilient varieties.

Maize

Stakeholders emphasised the need for improved access to quality seed, pest management technologies, and post-harvest handling systems.

Soybean

Deliberations highlighted opportunities for import substitution, increased smallholder participation and stronger private-sector partnerships.

Beans

The summit prioritised scaling improved seed systems and reducing dependence on imported small white beans.

Sorghum and Millets

Participants called for accelerated investments in drought-resilient traditional grains, farmer awareness campaigns, and stronger market linkages.

Groundnut

Key recommendations focused on improved varieties, aflatoxin management, value addition and seed multiplication systems.

Investment Mobilisation and Policy Alignment

Development partners, including the African Development Bank, FAO, World Bank, World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Union, reaffirmed the importance of investing in sustainable seed systems as a catalyst for agricultural transformation.

The summit also advocated for increased financing for seed sector infrastructure, strengthened extension and advisory services, improved mechanisation, and enhanced seed quality assurance systems, greater support for women and youth in seed enterprises, and regional seed trade opportunities.

Participants underscored the importance of aligning future investments with Zimbabwe’s national development priorities and continental food security goals.

Next Steps After the Summit

Following the summit, MAMWRD, with technical support from TAAT and partners, will lead the consolidation and validation of the Zimbabwe Seed Roadmap and Investment Plan.

Key next steps include finalising and officially adopting the roadmap, establishing implementation and monitoring mechanisms, mobilising public and private investments, developing commodity-specific action plans, strengthening stakeholder coordination platforms, providing continuous technical support from TAAT Compacts and CGIAR partners, and monitoring progress toward seed system transformation targets.

The Ministry also announced that the roadmap implementation process will be guided by the Zimbabwe Seed Association and the Seed Services Institute to ensure accountability and sustained stakeholder engagement.

Building the Future of Zimbabwe’s Agriculture

The successful conclusion of the National Seed Business Summit marks a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s journey toward resilient food systems and agricultural transformation.

By bringing together policymakers, scientists, private-sector actors, farmers and development partners, the summit demonstrated the power of collaboration in building sustainable seed systems capable of driving productivity, improving livelihoods and strengthening national food security.

As Zimbabwe advances the implementation of the roadmap, stakeholders expressed optimism that the country is well-positioned to become a regional leader in climate-smart agriculture, seed system innovation, and food sovereignty.

The summit reaffirmed a shared commitment: that quality seed remains the foundation for transforming agriculture, empowering farmers and securing Zimbabwe’s future food systems.