HARARE — The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has pledged to strengthen its regulatory role, improve agricultural market intelligence and work more closely with stakeholders as Zimbabwe seeks to build a more efficient, competitive and food-secure agricultural sector.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting, AMA board chairperson Munyaradzi Hwengwere said the organisation had spent 2025 reflecting on its role in a rapidly changing agricultural environment while responding to the recovery of the sector following the severe drought experienced previously.
“2025 was a year of recovery, it was a year of transition, but it was also a year in which we had to reflect deeply on our role as AMA, particularly given the changing agricultural space,” the chairperson said.
The chairperson said AMA was being repositioned to become a more technically driven organisation capable of supporting Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation agenda.
He said the Authority was guided by the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy, which focuses on areas including agricultural production, modernising the sector through technology, value addition and beneficiation, improving livelihoods, diversifying agricultural markets and mobilising public and private investment.
An AMA representative said the Authority was developing an agricultural information system that would bring together data from different institutions. The system is expected to incorporate information from farmers, contractors and other agricultural stakeholders, with the eventual use of satellite imagery and other technologies to improve the accuracy of production estimates.
AMA said technology would play a central role in its plans for the coming year. The Authority said it wanted to develop a comprehensive database capable of identifying farmers, their locations, production activities and market requirements. The board chairperson said technology should ultimately enable AMA to know what farmers are producing and where they are producing it.
“We need to know every farmer, what they are doing and where they need to go,” he said.
Speaking at the AGM, AMA CEO Alice Mapfiza said market access was identified as one of AMA’s major priorities. The Authority said its role was not simply to regulate agricultural markets but also to help create an environment in which demand could be developed for locally produced agricultural commodities. AMA management said the Authority would prioritise creating local demand before targeting regional and international markets.
“The organisation’s vision is to contribute to a sustainable agricultural sector through effective marketing and regulation, while its stated values include accountability, teamwork, integrity, transparency and innovation. The Authority also plans to strengthen market intelligence and provide information on prices, production and market opportunities,” she said.
AMA said this would help farmers and other players make better decisions about what to produce, where to sell and when commodities may need to be imported or exported.
AMA reported improvements in a number of agricultural production indicators during the 2025/26 season. According to figures presented at the AGM, maize production increased from approximately 2.29 million metric tonnes to 2.35 million metric tonnes.
Wheat production was also reported to have increased significantly, while livestock and meat production showed signs of improvement.
However, management cautioned that the sector continued to face challenges related to climate change, financing, market access and production costs.
Livestock marketing was another area identified for improvement. AMA reported that only 24 livestock auctions had been conducted during the period under review, despite the importance of livestock to rural livelihoods. Management said the Authority intended to expand livestock auctions during 2026.
The board chairperson said AMA should work more closely with organisations involved in livestock regulation and marketing.
Management reported a decline in revenue and highlighted the impact of reduced transaction volumes and other income streams.
The financial presentation also showed pressure on the Authority’s liquidity position, with the current ratio indicating that AMA’s short-term assets were not sufficient to comfortably cover its current liabilities.
Management said the financial position reinforced the need for AMA to diversify its revenue sources and develop additional value chains. The Authority said it would therefore focus on expanding revenue-generating activities beyond traditional commodities.
The board chairperson also urged stakeholders to actively participate in the Authority’s activities and contribute ideas for improving the agricultural sector.
“AMA is an organisation that represents this country and so let us contribute to building a better AMA,” he said.
Going into 2026, AMA identified several priorities, including improving agricultural data, increasing market access, strengthening market intelligence, expanding value-chain financing, mobilising resources, enforcing regulations more effectively and improving
Auditors issued an unqualified audit opinion for AMA, stating that the financial statements fairly presented the Authority’s position in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and the AMA Act.
Two key audit matters were discussed. First, the valuation of receivables. The expected credit loss applied to receivables from binding arrangements involves management estimates and judgment. Auditors reviewed assumptions, subsequent receipts and related inputs and concluded the provision was fair and accurate.
Second, the valuation of investment property at year-end, conducted by external valuers. Auditors assessed the experts’ qualifications, independence and methodologies and found the estimated values fair and reasonable.
For the Agricultural Marketing Fund (AMF), auditors issued a qualified opinion for the year ended 31 December 2025, confirming the financial statements presented fairly in line with IPSAS. A similar review of expected credit losses on AMF receivables was done and also found fair and reasonable.
Members approved audit fees of ZIG 7,854 paid to Nolan’s Chartered Accountants.
The firm was also reappointed as external auditor for AMA and the Agricultural Marketing Fund for 2026, subject to concurrence from the Auditor-General. Members commended the auditors for independence and objectivity.
The AGM confirmed remuneration of ZIG 1,349,853 paid to non-executive directors for the year ended 31 December 2025, noting the amount had been duly paid and was in line with approvals.
In closing remarks, the board chairperson said the quality and validity of data depends on stakeholder trust. AMA is developing an agricultural information system that will integrate data from farmers, contractors and other institutions, and will incorporate satellite imagery and AI to improve accuracy.
He stressed that AMA must move beyond its historical focus on specific commodities such as cotton and grains. The Authority intends to assert its regulatory mandate across all sectors while cooperating with other associations, rather than competing.
