Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development

What Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development does

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MLAFWRD) is a Zimbabwean government ministry headquartered at Ngungunyana Building, 1 Liberation Legacy Way, Harare. Established following Zimbabwe's independence in 1980 and renamed to its current form in 2022, it serves as the statutory authority for agriculture, land, water, fisheries, and rural development nationwide, administering 42 governing Acts and overseeing 8 parastatals including the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), and the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB). Services are delivered through a hierarchical network spanning the head office, 10 provincial offices, district offices, 9 agricultural colleges, the Institute of Agricultural Engineering, and the ARDAS extension service, reaching smallholder farmers, commercial A1/A2 farmers, livestock producers, fish farmers, and youth across all 10 provinces.

The Ministry's product portfolio comprises advisory divisions (ARDAS for crops, livestock, and fisheries), mechanization facilities (Belarus, John Deere, Bain New Holland), the Directorate of Veterinary Services, and the Department of Irrigation Development. Signature programs include Pfumvudza/Intwasa climate-smart farming, the Presidential Input Scheme, the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme, the Presidential Heifer Pass-On Scheme, and the Rural Development 8.0 model targeting 9,600 School Business Units and 2,800 Youth Business Units. Digital delivery channels include the Zimbabwe Online Agricultural College (ZIACO), the Agricultural Imports and Exports Online System, and AgriTips365. Technology investments include AI-powered grain silos at GMB Mutare, drone-based migratory pest control, digital stock cards for extension officers, and smart irrigation with soil moisture sensors. The Ministry does not generate commercial revenue; it is funded through annual Government of Zimbabwe Treasury budget allocations and supplemented by multilateral grants from FAO, IFAD, World Bank, EU, USAID, Green Climate Fund, JICA, GIZ, FCDO, and Foundations for Farming.

Name

Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development

Legal name

Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation & Water Resources Development

Website

https://agric.gov.zw

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is the Zimbabwean government ministry that administers national policy, extension services, irrigation, veterinary, and rural development programs across all 10 provinces, serving smallholder and commercial farmers, livestock producers, fish farmers, and youth through 8 parastatals and a nationwide provincial and district office network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Agricultural Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Public Administration (92)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFACAJAN

Capital Projects & Farm Expansion Advisory (Feasibility, Site Planning, ROI)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Services (Custom Farming, Agronomy, Veterinary)/Farm Management & Operational Advisory Services

SECONDARYAFACAFAM

Water Rights, Permitting & Compliance Services (Allocations, Reporting)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Services (Custom Farming, Agronomy, Veterinary)/Irrigation & Water Management Services (Design, Scheduling, Maintenance)

SECONDARYBPADABAF

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYBPAIABAC

State/Provincial Treasury, Budget & Fiscal Management

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/State/Provincial & Regional Government Administration

Keywords

• Agricultural extension services
• Public sector agriculture
• Food security programs
• Rural development services
• Government agricultural policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Harare

HQ country

Zimbabwe

HQ region

Africa

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: The Ministry is funded through annual government budget allocations from the Republic of Zimbabwe Treasury. It does not generate commercial revenue but manages public funds for agricultural development, food security, and rural transformation programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Ministry administers Zimbabwe's agricultural policy, extension services, irrigation development, veterinary services, mechanization programs, and rural development across the country. It delivers these through a hierarchical network of 10 provincial and district offices, supporting smallholder, commercial, and youth farmers with subsidized inputs, advisory services, training, and regulatory oversight under 42 governing Acts.

Product overview

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is a Zimbabwean government ministry that provides agricultural advisory, regulatory, and service delivery functions rather than a commercial product company. Its service portfolio consists of multiple interconnected divisions and programs: ARDAS provides core extension advisory services for crops, livestock, and fisheries; the Mechanisation Directorate manages equipment access through various facilities (Belarus, John Deere, Bain New Holland); Veterinary Services handles animal health; and Irrigation Development oversees water resource management. Digital service delivery is provided through ZIAC (online agricultural education), the Agricultural Imports and Exports Online System, and AgriTips365. Government programs including Pfumvudza/Intwasa, Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme, and Presidential Rural Poultry/Goat Schemes provide targeted support to farmers. The ministry operates as a platform of interdependent government services rather than a unified commercial product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zimbabwe Online Agricultural College (ZIACO)

Quantifiable outcome

• 203,000 hectares of irrigable land developed as of 2022, targeting 350,000 hectares by 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO provides technical support and funding for various agricultural programs including FISH4ACP programme for tilapia value chain development, Black Soldier Fly larvae feed formulation, and agricultural research initiatives. The Euro 48 million FISH4ACP project supports sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development.
• United Kingdom Government (FCDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK Government through the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is rolling out Pfumvudza/Intwasa training programme in collaboration with Foundations for Farming Institute, training 1680 Extension Officers nationwide.
• Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscussions ongoing for cooperation in pastures production, beef, sheep, goat, dairy, and poultry production value chains between Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia.
• Government of Dubai (UAE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for coffee and tea production and processing. Dubai will provide technical support, training programs, and introduce innovative farming practices. Focus on value addition in Zimbabwe to export finished products rather than raw materials.
• Government of RwandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWin-win collaborative partnership in seed production. Rwanda interested in Zimbabwe's advanced seed production process and extension system, which they want to replicate. Zimbabwe to benefit from Rwanda's digitized seed distribution systems.
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJICA and Government exploring expansion of SHEP (Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion) approach to deepen agricultural commercialisation in Zimbabwe.
• German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ collaborating in Aquaculture Business School (ABS) initiative alongside FAO under FISH4ACP Programme, incorporating TOT extension modules for comprehensive fish farming business training.
• International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIPS Zimbabwe project advancing Livestock Production Systems to combat climate change-induced diseases, improve animal health, nutrition, breeding, and sustainable marketing, implemented in 9 districts with CIRAD, CIMMYT, and UZ Faculty of Veterinary Sciences.
• International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkama Utsawi (UU) Project for Crop and Livestock Diversification in collaboration with ARDAS and ARISS, coordinated through Agronomy Research Institute.
• Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParastatal under the Ministry responsible for regulating agricultural marketing, administering marketing regulations, and promoting agricultural trade.
• Grain Marketing Board (GMB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParastatal responsible for grain procurement, storage, and marketing. GMB Mutare depot commissioned with AI-powered silos for intelligent grain storage.
• Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParastatal managing water resources and water supply infrastructure. Works with Ministry on irrigation development, dam construction, and water resource management.
• Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParastatal managing agricultural estates and promoting commercial agricultural production across Zimbabwe.
• Tobacco Research Board (Kutsaga)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParastatal conducting tobacco research and providing research-based services to the tobacco industry.
• Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory parastatal for tobacco industry, overseeing tobacco marketing, production statistics, and industry compliance.
• Cotton Company of ZimbabweminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParastatal involved in cotton production and marketing.
• Pig Industry Board (PIB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParastatal regulating and developing the pig industry in Zimbabwe.
• Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRC officials scouting agricultural investment opportunities in Zimbabwe, exploring bilateral cooperation in agriculture.
• Foundations for FarmingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner for Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, providing training to Extension Officers on climate-smart farming practices.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ministry of Agriculture (Malawi): Malawi's national agriculture ministry with comparable focus on smallholder productivity, input subsidy programs, and irrigation development in a similar rain-fed, climate-vulnerable SADC context.
• Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (South Africa): South Africa's national ministry with an almost identical mandate covering agriculture, land reform, and rural development. Directly comparable as a SADC counterpart delivering extension services, mechanization support, and agricultural policy across a similar agro-ecological context.
• Ministry of Agriculture (Tanzania): Tanzania's national agriculture ministry operating with comparable functions (extension, irrigation, livestock, fisheries) and similarly reliant on multilateral donor financing across an Eastern/Southern African smallholder base.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (Kenya): Kenya's national agriculture ministry delivering extension, irrigation, livestock and fisheries services across a comparable mixed smallholder/commercial farming base. Comparable in mandate (crop production, livestock, fisheries, irrigation) and in reliance on bilateral/donor co-financing.

Broad incumbents

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): The lead UN agency on agriculture, nutrition, and food security, and a core technical/financial partner of the Ministry (e.g., FISH4ACP, training programs). Comparable as a global incumbent shaping agricultural policy frameworks in which the Ministry operates.
• World Food Programme (WFP): UN agency addressing food security and emergency response, frequently operating alongside national agriculture ministries in Zimbabwe and the broader SADC region. Comparable in the food-security and resilience-building mandate overlap.
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): UN agency financing smallholder agriculture and rural development globally, and a core funder of the Ministry's irrigation and youth programs (SIRP, SACP). Comparable as a multilateral counterpart enabling the Ministry's rural development mandate.

Others

• Green Climate Fund: Global climate finance fund supporting the Ministry's irrigation development and climate adaptation programs (2020-2027). Comparable as a major capital provider enabling the Ministry's climate-resilient infrastructure build-out.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German development agency actively partnering with the Ministry on the Aquaculture Business School (ABS) under FISH4ACP. Comparable as a key implementing/co-financing partner shaping the Ministry's fisheries and rural youth programs.

Emerging players

• AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa): Africa-focused agricultural development organization working across multiple African ministries on input access, seed systems, and smallholder productivity — including Zimbabwe. Comparable as an emerging Africa-wide agricultural transformation counterpart and program partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MoLAFWRD_Zim
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mlafwrdzim322
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministry-of-lands-agriculture-fisheries-water-and-rural-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development