Digital Agriculture and AI for Climate-Resilient Smallholder Farming in Zimbabwe

Country: Zimbabwe Source: United Nations University Please refer to the attached file. This policy brief evaluates the strategic role of digital agriculture in building climate-resilient smallholder farming systems in Zimbabwe. While mobile technologies offer significant opportunities to enhance operational efficiencies across financial and agricultural advisory services, persistent structural barriers—such as inadequate rural connectivity, low digital literacy, and gender inequality—limit equitable adoption. Left unmanaged, these disparities risk excluding vulnerable populations and accelerating resource degradation under increasing climate variability. To address these challenges, the brief analyses the cross-sectoral requirements and fiscal implications of scaling rural digital infrastructure. By navigating the necessary trade-offs between cost and accessibility, the brief outlines an actionable framework for whole-of-government coordination, targeted public-private partnerships, and inclusive capacity-building, ensuring that digital transformation advances national development goals and secures equitable market access for all farmers.

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