Cabinet has approved the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Industry Development Plan (2026-2035), a strategy aimed at transforming the country into a globally competitive, climate-resilient and innovation-driven producer of sugarcane and sugarcane-based products by 2035.
Briefing the media on Cabinet decisions, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Soda Zhemu, said the plan was presented by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Dr Frederick Shava, in his capacity as Acting Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on National Development Planning.
“The Zimbabwe Sugarcane Industry Development Plan (2026-2035) seeks to transform Zimbabwe into a globally competitive, climate-resilient and innovation-driven producer of sugarcane and sugarcane-based products by 2035,” said Dr Soda Zhemu.
He said the plan focuses on diversification and value addition through expanded ethanol production, renewable energy generation, industrial by-products, bio-fertilisers, stock feeds, bio-plastics and other downstream industries derived from sugarcane by-products such as molasses and bagasse.
“The Plan envisages modernisation of production systems in order to de-risk and guarantee the viability of the industry,” he said.
Dr Soda Zhemu said the strategy also seeks to modernise infrastructure, increase productivity, promote renewable energy development and strengthen research and innovation, while fostering partnerships among Government, the private sector, development partners, academia and local communities.
The plan is anchored on seven pillars, namely enabling policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks; enhancing productivity and climate resilience; promoting product diversification; market and trade development and value chain diversification; research, technology and innovation; inclusive growth and smallholder development; and finance and investment.
Dr Soda Zhemu said implementation of the strategy would significantly boost sugarcane yields and hectarage through improved access to affordable financing, enhanced irrigation infrastructure and efficient regulatory support.
“More efficient production systems will lower unit costs, reduce average market prices and strengthen the industry’s competitiveness regionally and globally. Increased processing capacity is expected to result in expanded ethanol output and increased sugar exports, thereby ensuring sustained profitability across the value chain,” he said.
Among the targets set for 2035 are increasing sugarcane yields from 81 metric tonnes per hectare to 110 metric tonnes per hectare, raising annual sugar production from 400 000 metric tonnes to 500 000 metric tonnes, and expanding ethanol production from 155 million litres to 600 million litres annually.
The plan also seeks to increase electricity generation from 23 megawatts to 200 megawatts and boost sugar exports from 100 000 metric tonnes to 200 000 metric tonnes per year.
Government expects the strategy to drive sustainable economic transformation, create employment opportunities and promote green industrial development through coordinated investment and strategic collaboration across the sugarcane value chain.
