Zimbabwe approves 10-year Sugarcane Industry Development Plan

Zimbabwe's Cabinet has approved the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Industry Development Plan 2026 to 2035, a long-term strategy aimed at transforming the country's sugar sector into a globally competitive, climate-resilient, and innovation-driven industry. The plan was presented to Cabinet by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Fredrick Shava, acting as chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on National Development Planning.

Key targets for 2035

The plan sets out a clear set of production and capacity goals to be reached by 2035:

• Sugarcane yields raised from 81 to 110 tonnes per hectare
• Annual sugar production raised from 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes
• Ethanol production expanded from 155 million to 600 million litres per year
• Industry electricity generation increased from 23 to 200 megawatts
• Annual sugar exports doubled from 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes

Seven implementation pillars

Delivery of the plan rests on seven pillars that span policy, productivity, and investment:

• Enabling policy and regulatory systems
• Improving productivity and climate resilience
• Promoting product diversification
• Strengthening markets and value chains
• Advancing research and technology
• Supporting inclusive growth and smallholder participation
• Expanding access to finance and investment

A more ambitious long-term direction

The plan succeeds earlier strategy frameworks and sets a more ambitious long-term direction for the sector, anchoring the next decade of growth in clear, measurable targets rather than year-to-year forecasts. It positions sugar not only as a food product but as a base for ethanol, power generation, and other higher-value outputs.

Improved access to financing, expanded irrigation, and stronger institutional support are expected to increase both cane yields and the area under cultivation. Together, these are the levers the plan relies on to lift output from current levels towards the 2035 goals.

Read more

See the current figures on the production statistics page, read about ethanol and energy on the by-products page, or return to the Industry News index.