About Zimbabwe Agri Weekly

Zimbabwe agriculture. Weekly. Built for farmers, traders, and agribusiness professionals.

What We Cover

Zimbabwe Agri Weekly (ZAW) tracks the data that matters most to Zimbabwe's agricultural sector: official commodity prices from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), tobacco auction volumes and prices from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), regional rainfall from the Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department (ZIMMET), and market intelligence from grain millers, commodity traders, and agribusiness operators.

We publish every Friday, covering the prior week's prices, auction results, and weather alerts in time for weekend planning by farmers and Monday trading by buyers.

Data Sources

GMBGrain Marketing Board — official floor and producer prices for maize, wheat, and soya
TIMBTobacco Industry and Marketing Board — weekly auction volumes, values, and average prices
ZIMMETZimbabwe Meteorological Services — rainfall and seasonal forecasts by province
Grain MillersGrain Millers Association of Zimbabwe — soya bean and small grains prices
FAOFood and Agriculture Organization — regional food security context and price comparisons
CFU / ZFUCommercial Farmers Union, Zimbabwe Farmers Union — planting intentions and input prices

Zimbabwe's Agricultural Sector

Agriculture employs approximately 60% of Zimbabwe's workforce and accounts for 12–15% of GDP. The sector produces for both domestic consumption and export, with tobacco being the single largest agricultural export earner — generating over $1.3 billion in 2024 on auction floor volumes of approximately 180 million kilograms.

Maize is the staple crop, with the Grain Marketing Board acting as the buyer of last resort at government-set floor prices. The 2025/26 main rain season (October–March) is critical for maize, soya, and cotton production across Mashonaland and Manicaland provinces.

Tobacco Auction Season

The flue-cured tobacco auction season runs from approximately March to July each year, with three main floors in Harare: Boka Tobacco Auction Floors, TSF (Tobacco Sales Floor), and Premier Tobacco. The TIMB publishes weekly auction results including volumes sold, total value, and average price per kilogram.

The auction season 2025/26 opened on 1 March 2026. Volumes are expected to reach 190–200 million kilograms, up from 186 million kg in 2024/25.

Update Frequency

Price data is updated weekly every Friday. GMB prices are announced quarterly and updated when revisions are gazetted. TIMB data reflects the previous Thursday's auction close. Rainfall data is updated weekly from ZIMMET's provincial stations.

Newsletter

Subscribe to the weekly digest at the newsletter page for Friday morning briefings covering prices, auction results, weather alerts, and market commentary.

Note: Zimbabwe Agri Weekly is an independent data service. All prices are indicative and sourced from official institutional channels. Commodity prices are subject to change by the relevant authorities. ZAW is not affiliated with GMB, TIMB, or any government body. Farmers and traders should verify current prices directly with the relevant institution before transacting.