In a sweeping move to boost productivity and investment, Government has announced a major overhaul of agricultural regulations, eliminating dozens of permits and drastically cutting fees in a bid to unshackle the sector.
The reforms, announced by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, directly target the excessive bureaucracy that has long constrained farmers and processors.
Government acknowledged that the sector, which supports 65% of livelihoods and is the nation’s economic engine, had been hampered by duplication, high compliance costs, and overwhelming administrative burdens.
Previously, businesses faced a number of requirements. Dairy farmers needed up to 25 permits from 12 different agencies, while feed manufacturers required 23 from 10 departments.
The cost of formalisation was prohibitively high, placing a particular strain on smallholder farmers.
The new measures dismantle this complex system. Key changes include slashing the Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA) farm registration to a flat $1 fee and abolishing the certificate entirely for small and medium-scale farmers.
Dairy processor registration has been reduced from $350 annually to a one-time $50 fee, and feed manufacturing registration is now a flat $20, down from $250.
Furthermore, the costly duplication of livestock movement permits has been abolished, with clearance now set at $5 per herd instead of $10 per beast.
Significant reductions have also been applied to export fees, with dairy product registration cut from $900 to $10.
The reforms extend beyond agriculture-specific permits. Goernment has scrapped food handler health certificates, abolished water abstraction fees, and dramatically reduced environmental levies. Notably, the costly Environmental Impact Assessment license has been lowered from 1.5% of project value to just 0.05%.
Agriculture analyst Nickros Kajengo applauded the initiative, stating, “This is a profoundly positive and long-overdue step. By dismantling these financial and administrative barriers, the Government is not just easing the cost of doing business; it is actively incentivising investment, formalisation, and growth across the entire agricultural value chain. This is precisely the kind of pragmatic policy needed to stimulate rural development and job creation.”
Government stated these measures are designed to lower the cost of business, encourage exports, and improve competitiveness.
All future regulations will undergo a Regulatory Impact Assessment to ensure they support, rather than hinder, economic growth and the nation’s goal of achieving Upper Middle-Income status by 2030.
