Zimbabwe has banned urban and peri-urban farming ahead of the rainy season, and the government will exclude city residents from the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme. Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka told parliament that farming belongs only in designated rural agricultural zones, not in residential areas. Officials cite environmental damage, blocked drainage systems, and strained infrastructure as reasons for enforcement.
The prohibition affects thousands of families who cultivate small plots, road verges, and wetlands in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mutare for food and income. The withdrawal of state-provided seeds and fertilizer removes support that many residents depend on to offset high living costs. Urban dwellers who previously relied on small-scale cultivation to feed their families and generate income must now find alternatives. The policy reinstates earlier restrictions on farming within municipal boundaries.
The prohibition affects thousands of families who cultivate small plots, road verges, and wetlands in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mutare for food and income. The withdrawal of state-provided seeds and fertilizer removes support that many residents depend on to offset high living costs. Urban dwellers who previously relied on small-scale cultivation to feed their families and generate income must now find alternatives. The policy reinstates earlier restrictions on farming within municipal boundaries.
