FAO-Backed Initiative Targets Formalisation of Zimbabwe–Mozambique Agro Trade at ZITF

Mintesinot Niggusie

The Food and Agriculture Organization and regional partners have launched a push to formalise cross-border agricultural trade between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, focusing on sesame, macadamia and tomato value chains as part of a broader effort to unlock export markets.

The initiative was advanced through a high-level policy dialogue held on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair 2026, where policymakers, investors and industry players met to address structural bottlenecks limiting competitiveness in the two countries’ agrifood systems.

The discussions form part of the Zimbabwe–Mozambique Agriculture Value Chain and Trade Development Project, a three-year programme backed by 3.5 million euros in funding from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.

The project aims to shift trade from informal channels to structured, export-oriented systems by strengthening aggregation, processing, logistics and compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

Officials said informal trading, weak buyer–seller linkages and limited quality assurance systems continue to constrain cross-border agricultural flows, raising transaction costs and reducing export potential.

“ZITF brings the right stakeholders into one place… so we can move from fragmented informal trade to structured, traceable value chains that reward quality and unlock export markets,” said Patrice Talla.

The programme is being implemented jointly with the governments of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, with a focus on integrating smallholder farmers into formal markets and improving access to finance and higher-value export channels.

Participants highlighted compliance with standards and traceability systems as critical to competitiveness, noting that export markets increasingly demand verifiable quality and predictable supply chains.

“Export competitiveness starts with systems, traceability and enforceable standards,” said Gift Mugano, adding that structured trade frameworks are essential to attract investment and financing.

Discussions also pointed to productivity constraints, post-harvest losses and weak logistics as major sources of value erosion, particularly for perishable products such as tomatoes. Limited cold chain infrastructure and aggregation systems were cited as key gaps.

Speakers said formalisation could help stabilise prices, reduce informal side-marketing and improve transparency, while enabling farmers and traders to access finance and larger markets.