Issues of agricultural employment development in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Agriculture remains the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy, in spite of the atypical relatively developed manufacturing, mining and services sectors by African standards. Table 1.1. gives some salient features pertaining to the role of agriculture in Zimbabwe's economy. According to the First Five-Year National Development Plan, the sector's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) share hovers around 15% and overall GDP was expected to grow an average of 5% per annum (see Table I.I.). The share contribution to GDP has fallen over the last few years by approximately four percentage points. Fourteen percent of the Gross Domestic Capital Formation (GDCF) is derived from agriculture. Agricultural exports constitute approximately 34% of total exports, whilst imports comprise 2-3% of the total. The sector has received around 20% of national public sector investment and is projected to receive the same until 1990. In average terms this represents annual Government allocations (capital investment) of $176 million. Meanwhile, overall formal employment in the agricultural sector represents approximately 25% of total formal employment and has declined from 327 000 in 1980 to 277 800 in 1985. Employment in agriculture is expected to increase at an average rate of 2,2% up to 306 800 by 1990. Informal employment by the sector is relatively high, presumably engaging at least 600 000 Communal Area (peasant) households.