Zimbabwe
COUNTRY OVERVIEW
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture works in Zimbabwe to strengthen food security, improve agricultural productivity, and enhance rural livelihoods through research-for-development initiatives. As part of the Southern Africa regional strategy, IITA collaborates with government institutions, CGIAR centers, and development partners to scale climate-smart technologies, strengthen seed systems, and support inclusive agribusiness development.
Our work focuses on resilient crop systems, youth empowerment, advanced breeding technologies, and sustainable agricultural transformation.
FOCUS AREAS
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Crop Improvement
Promoting drought-tolerant and early-maturing varieties of maize, soybean, cowpea, and other staple crops to strengthen resilience and productivity.
Nutrition and Food Safety
Promoting biofortified crops and aflatoxin management technologies to improve nutrition and food quality.
Digital and Advanced Breeding Technologies
Deploying digital phenotyping, advanced variety trials, and modern breeding tools to accelerate crop improvement.
Youth in Agribusiness
Empowering young people through agribusiness training, entrepreneurship development, and employment opportunities across agricultural value chains.
Featured Projects
- Location: Côte d’ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Location: Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe
INNOVATION
Aflasafe™ Technology
Promoting biological control solutions that reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut, improving food safety and market access.
High-Iron Bean Technologies
Supporting the dissemination of nutrient-rich bean varieties to improve nutrition outcomes among vulnerable populations.
Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties
Deployment of drought-tolerant maize and improved legume varieties adapted to changing climatic conditions.
IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
IITA is delivering growing impact in Zimbabwe by strengthening climate resilience, advancing crop improvement, and expanding opportunities for youth in agribusiness. Through partnerships and scalable innovations, IITA supports sustainable farming systems, improved productivity, and enhanced livelihoods for farming communities.
240+
youths trained in agribusiness and entrepreneurship
Through the ENABLE-TAAT initiative, young people in Zimbabwe have received training in agribusiness, financial management, marketing, and enterprise development.
Climate-resilient crop varieties strengthening food systems
Improved drought-tolerant maize and legume varieties are helping farmers adapt to climate variability and improve productivity.
Aflasafe™ technology improving food safety
Biological control technologies are helping reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut production systems.
Advanced breeding technologies accelerating innovation
Digital phenotyping and advanced variety trials are strengthening crop breeding systems and improving technology deployment.
Participatory breeding approaches improving farmer adoption
Collaborative varietal selection initiatives are enabling farmers to identify crop varieties suited to local conditions and market needs.
Regional partnerships strengthening agricultural transformation
Collaboration with institutions such as International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and national partners is scaling agricultural innovations across Zimbabwe.
PARTNERS
IITA works in Zimbabwe with government institutions, CGIAR centers, research organizations, and development partners to scale agricultural innovations and strengthen food systems.
- CIMMYT
- The Ministry of Lands
- Department of Research and Specialist Services (DR&SS)
- Community Technology Development Organization (CTDO)
Publications
Beyond climate change: the role of integrated soil fertility management for sustaining future maize yield in Sub-Saharan Africa
Surface albedo and thermal radiation dynamics under conservation and conventional agriculture in subhumid Zimbabwe
Drivers of soil organic carbon stocks at village scale in a sub-humid region of Zimbabwe
Related News
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SARD-SC beneficiary declared best female wheat farmer in Zimbabwe
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ENABLE-TAAT trains over 240 Zimbabwean youths, targets more African youth
The ENABLE-TAAT project of IITA has provided agribusiness training for no fewer than 249 youths
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MEDIA/RESOURCES
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