Agriculture is the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy as Zimbabweans remain largely a rural people who derive their livelihood from agriculture and other related rural economic activities. Agricultural activities provide employment and income for 60-70% of the population, supplies 60% of the raw materials required by the industrial sector and contributes 40% of total export earnings.

There are several agricultural business opportunities in Zimbabwe in which you can invest and reap the rewards in the future. Here are some profitable business ideas in Zimbabwe which you can start with no to little investment.

Crops Production

Agriculture contributes approximately 17% to Zimbabwe’s GDP. As the main source of livelihood for the majority of the population, the performance of agriculture is a key determinant of rural livelihood resilience and poverty levels. General challenges facing smallholder farmers (SHF’s) include low and erratic rainfall, low and declining soil fertility, low investment, shortages of farm power – labour and draft animals, poor physical and institutional infrastructure, poverty and recurring food insecurity. Agricultural production is also vulnerable to periodic droughts. The peasant sector, which produces 70% of staple foods (maize, millets, and groundnuts), is particularly vulnerable as it has access to less than 5% of national irrigation facilities.

Zimbabwe offers a wide range of opportunities across agricultural sectors.. The country has a rich natural resource base and a growing economy, making it an attractive destination for investment and trade.

Poultry Farming

We preach to the choir on this chances are high most of you are doing poultry. The 3 core areas of specialization are broiler chickens, layers, and free-range (roadrunner) chickens. Another variation in this field is focusing on the hatchery. There are huge prospects in this area. Poultry farmers usually struggle to get adequate and consistent day old chicks. Hatcheries in Zimbabwe are not managing to satisfy the market demand. All in all, there is infinite potential in poultry production in Zimbabwe.

Fish Production

Fish production has been steadily going up in Zimbabwe over the past few years. However, there remain lots of untapped potential. Additionally, value addition and processing of by-products from fish remains mostly docile. Countless technological innovations now allow anyone to venture into fish production. For example, portable fish pools are readily available nowadays in Zimbabwe. In 2022 and beyond we have to see more and more people taking up fish production.

Grocery Store

With the growing popularity of online shopping, starting an e-commerce business is a smart idea for entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe. You can create an online store selling locally made products or merchandise from overseas and deliver them to customers across the country. Most people are doing this and its a lucrative idea that is not labour or capital intensive. Leveraging social media as an advertising tool is one of the benefits of this idea.

Vegetable Farming

Vegetable farming which falls broadly under horticulture is one of the most active agricultural activities in Zimbabwe and the world over. I am talking about vegetables such as tomatoes, leafy greens, butternuts, cucumbers, onions, and eggplants, just to mention a few. There is a consistently high demand for these vegetables throughout the year. As much as you can score big just by concentrating on the Zimbabwean market I want you to seriously consider growing them for export. Export markets need not necessarily be far, they can be regional markets in Africa. I believe there are many opportunities in vegetable farming for export.

Goat Farming

This is another livestock farming area we highly recommend. Operating costs are relatively low because goats are resilient animals. They can thrive just by foraging for food from their surroundings. If you can afford to throw in commercial feeds, that will be a bonus. They also do not need elaborate housing and can withstand harsh weather. Goats can sell for good prices on the market, ranging from around US$100 to over US$300. Boer goats are some of the most sought goat breeds. Another breed to consider is the Kalahari.

Plant Nursery

The great thing about nurseries is that they do not need much land and water. One can just set up their plant nursery in their backyard. We recommend you to look up the story of Spinyard Seedlings. This is the biggest producer of seedlings in Zimbabwe. Anyways, there are so many areas of focus when it comes to planting nurseries. Most crops or plants are propagated from seedlings so they are usually sought after. Most vegetables, for example, are cultivated from seedlings.

Mushroom Farm

Mushrooms are in demand all over the world hence a Mushroom farm is a good small farm Business Idea. Mushrooms are very convenient to grow and harvest. They can even be grown in a vertical space. Often mushroom harvest from a single room is enough to bring in full time income. Moreover, Mushrooms also have fast growing circle so you’ll be able to get multiple harvests from a single room farm.

Agricultural Equipments

Because of the surge in agricultural activities, the need for equipments has shot up also. By equipment, we are not only referring to mechanical implements per se though they are definitely part of it. Equipments here also refer to chemicals (e.g. insecticides, pesticides, herbicides) and the like chemicals also refer to livestock-related chemicals such as antibiotics, disinfectants, and so on. Other types of inputs are seeds and fertilizers. Sourcing and selling these, plus hiring out where possible, are now big opportunities to make money with. Think about it.

Stock feed and veterinary products

Stock feeds for cattle, poultry, fish, rabbits, and so on are highly sought after. The same goes for the associated veterinary products for livestock. People starting with orders of just a few bags to full truckload orders in just a few months. We have noticed the demand for stock feeds is even soaring. Their Masvingo branch now needs on average 2 truckloads of stock feeds every week. This is because they are running out too quickly. This is not surprising given the number of people entering livestock production space.

Conclusion

Zimbabwe is now reviving its economy. It is now becoming more business friendly. We hope that these opportunities are worth exploring. Often time people tend to get used to the status quo and never really notice opportunities in plain sight. So, do grab the opportunity and make your investment.