Farming through Zimbabwe’s transformation: A 35-year journey

Reflections on agriculture, resilience, and the evolving landscape of Zimbabwean farming

My name is Stuart Tippett, and I farm in Marondera North. Over the past 35 years, I've witnessed Zimbabwe's agricultural sector transform through periods of stability, crisis, and renewal. This is my reflection on that journey - a story of adaptation, resilience, and the enduring spirit of farming communities.

The foundation: Why farming matters

Farming is the greatest profession in the world. For 12,000 years, humanity has depended on agriculture, and as Jeremy Clarkson aptly said in his UK farming series on Amazon, Clarkson’s Farm, "Without farmers we won't eat." This fundamental truth has guided my life's work.

Zimbabwe's farming culture is unique. We are a community of special, amazing people who genuinely know our neighbours and welcome newcomers into our fold. We maintain an infectious optimism - if you throw adversity at us, we find a way to make it work. We're not just about survival; we're about building profitable, sustainable farming businesses.

The golden decade: 1990-2000

From 1990 to 2000, agriculture was the cornerstone of Zimbabwe's economy. This was a stable decade when farming employed 60-70% of the labor force and contributed 15-20% of the country's GDP. The government provided pre-planting prices for most commodities, giving us confidence in food production. Strong unions and associations maintained farming's vital role in the economy.

After completing my studies in Farm Management and Business at The Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, UK, I returned to Zimbabwe in 1993 to join my father in our family farming business. From these humble beginnings, I set ambitious goals: to grow the business, eliminate non-viable enterprises, and diversify income streams beyond tobacco to include essential oils, potatoes, maize, and livestock. I recognised early the importance of moving up the value chain and mastering marketing.

The upheaval: 2000-2010

The year 2000 reshaped all our lives. The following decade became one of the most turbulent and transformative periods in Zimbabwean agriculture. Tobacco production, our top export earner, plummeted from over 200 million kg to just 50 million kg by 2008. Fortunately, Chinese investment in the tobacco market and the introduction of contract farming helped recovery, with production reaching 120 million kg.

The economic meltdown

The hyperinflation that began around 2004-2005 was devastating. Shop prices changed daily, and we literally carried trunks of cash in our pickups for any purchase. These trunks were so heavy and the money so devalued that we barely bothered guarding them. To pay wages, we needed wheelbarrows or school trunks to transport millions, then trillions of Zimbabwe dollars back to the farms.

Hyperinflation peaked at 231 million percent in 2008, with severe production declines. Banks closed, including Agri-bank and CFX. The entire country ground to a halt. We survived thanks to innovative young entrepreneurs who created "Makuru.com," handling diaspora cash flows and providing us with US dollars to keep operating.

By January 2009, the population had had enough of the Zimbabwe dollar, and the country reverted to trading openly in US dollars. Slowly, recovery began.

Adaptation and survival

During this crisis, we made crucial changes to survive. We stopped growing tobacco for four years, focusing instead on export horticulture (runner beans, peas, and carrots) which maintained real value. We took on a cattle herd, which became hugely beneficial to our cash flow and supported our organic farming initiatives.

Our essential oil business grew during this period, and I seized an opportunity to produce organic tea tree oil for The Body Shop in the UK. This was a game-changer - we had found a niche market that allowed us to add value on the farm.

Recovery and growth: 2009-2015

The Government of National Unity from 2009 to 2013 brought stability through dual currency, allowing farms to return to profitability. Tobacco production recovered from 120 million to 200 million kg.

Chinese investment proved crucial, with buyers paying premium prices for our quality tobacco. Command agriculture, introduced in 2016, increased food production through programs like Pfumfudza and conservation agriculture.

In 2013, I took on a mixed farm in the area, quickly realising I needed to address soil health and nematode problems. I planted nine species in a mixed cover crop, and the soils slowly began recovering.

Two years later, I had an opportunity to get involved with a cattle and game ranch in West Nicholson, where I acquired a legacy Beefmaster herd originally imported from Lassiter's in the United States in the 1970s. This remarkable breed had adapted perfectly to Matabeleland conditions.

Climate challenges and innovation: 2015-present

Cyclone Idai’s devastation of Eastern Zimbabwe in 2019 starkly illustrated climate's role in our farming operations. From 2021 to 2025, tobacco production has boomed with record yields, but farmers must carefully manage production costs as US dollar inflation has reached 35% over the past decade.

The agriculture industry has seen tremendous growth in horticulture, particularly berries and citrus for export. In 2021, I took a leap of faith into organic tobacco production, building dams to secure irrigation for our crops.

Lessons from abroad

My son Jack, currently working a harvest job in the UK, reports this year as the driest spring in 100 years there, with wheat and barley yields of only 3-4 tons per hectare. Unlike us, they haven't invested in irrigation infrastructure. I believe these farmers face significant challenges.

Soil: Our most valuable asset

The biggest threat to soil life is the herbicides we use. Soils are farming's most valuable component, and we must consider every action's environmental impact. We must leave the land in better condition than we found it to ensure farming's continuity.

Soils need recovery time after continuous cereal and tobacco cropping. We must add diversity through cover cropping. The most valuable land will have the highest organic matter and biodiversity - this is how land will be valued for future buying and selling.

Looking forward: The next decade

Positive changes in the next 5-10 years will come from the Government Land Registry, created to provide farmers with land access.

As farmers, we must diversify income and build around our core enterprises. We should embrace AI and precision farming tools like "GEO FARMER," a South African app costing just USD 5 per hectare annually.

Economic perspective

Zimbabwe's economy is 70-80% informal, representing USD 42-73 billion. Participation in this informal economy is essential. Globally, the 1% net worth bracket varies dramatically: USD 5-8 million in Monaco, USD 1 million in the UK, USD 500,000 in South Africa, and around USD 300,000 in Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Personal philosophy

We have freedom and space in Zimbabwe, but we must remember to take time out from daily challenges. Health and happiness are important for recharging and maintaining balance.

Of the working class, 80% don't enjoy their work, but 20% do, and I'm proudly among them. My passion for farming, love for the country, soil, and livestock, and my cattle (my "Mombes"), the soils, and planting crops get me up every morning.

Each day, I reflect on the day's events, then put them to bed. Tomorrow always brings a new day with a new plan.

The message

Think outside the box. Observe. But most of all, experience.

Farming in Zimbabwe has taught me that resilience, adaptation, and community spirit can overcome even the most challenging circumstances. Through hyperinflation, political upheaval, climate challenges, and economic transformation, we've not just survived, we've found ways to thrive.

The landscape continues to evolve, but the fundamental truth remains: farming feeds the world, and Zimbabwe's farmers will continue to play their vital role in that mission.

Stuart Tippett farms in Marondera North, Zimbabwe, where he specialises in organic tobacco, essential oils, horticulture, and cattle. He is passionate about sustainable farming practices and soil health.