Production statistics
Key figures on Zimbabwe's wheat production, milling capacity, and flour industry performance.
Headline figures
Detailed statistics
Historical wheat production
| Year | Production (tonnes) | Hectares planted |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ~150,000 | 34,000 |
| 2019 | ~95,000 | 24,186 |
| 2020 | 95,000 | 44,466 |
| 2021 | 213,000 | 66,434 |
| 2022 | 230,000 | 80,883 |
| 2023 | 465,548 | 90,192 |
| 2024 | 555,824 | 119,594 |
| 2025 | 578,000 - 640,000 (reported range) | ~120,000 |
What the data tells us
Zimbabwe's wheat production has increased nearly sixfold since 2020, from 95,000 tonnes to 555,824 tonnes in 2024. Zimbabwe first surpassed its then self-sufficiency threshold of 360,000 tonnes in 2022, and every season since has widened the surplus. The national demand estimate has since been revised upward to approximately 615,000 tonnes as consumption grows.
However, quality constraints mean imported hard wheat is still needed for bread flour blending - approximately 30% of the mix. Wheat area has grown from 24,186 hectares in 2019 to 119,594 hectares in 2024, a nearly fivefold increase driven by government irrigation programmes (ANIRDP, SIRP) and private sector investment.
Zimbabwe is now Africa's second-largest wheat producer after Ethiopia, a remarkable transformation achieved in just four years.