Zimbabwe commissions first AI-powered grain silos in Kwekwe
Key features of the AI-integrated silos include automated temperature, humidity, and moisture monitoring systems.
ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe has taken a giant leap in modernising its agricultural infrastructure with the commissioning of its first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Grain Marketing Board (GMB) silos in Kwekwe, Midlands Province.
Officially opened on May 5 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the state-of-the-art facility has a capacity of 56,000 tonnes, part of a broader national initiative to double the country’s strategic grain storage capacity from 750,000 tonnes to 1.5 million tonnes by 2030.
The Kwekwe silos, consisting of seven high-tech units that received their first grain delivery on May 4, mark a key milestone in Zimbabwe’s efforts to modernise food systems, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance food security.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, President Mnangagwa hailed the development as a sign of the technological transformation sweeping across Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector.
“This 56,000-tonne smart grain storage facility is a testament to the transformation unfolding in our agriculture sector. It will revolutionise our grain storage capacity through the integration of cutting-edge AI technologies,” he said.
Smart storage for a food-secure future
Key features of the AI-integrated silos include automated temperature, humidity, and moisture monitoring systems, in-built grain dryers, and advanced climate control functions to ensure optimal grain preservation.
The silos also boast traceable digital records and anti-theft systems, increasing operational transparency and reducing grain losses, which have previously cost the country over US$30 million due to outdated storage systems.
Previously, farmers in the grain-rich Kwekwe District were forced to transport their harvests to Chegutu—a trip that cost up to US$600 per 30-tonne load.
According to President Mnangagwa, the new local facility is expected to significantly reduce logistics costs and increase access to efficient storage for high-yielding farms such as the First Family’s Pricabe Farm, which recently recorded a yield of 11.3 tonnes per hectare.
The Kwekwe site is the first of 14 new silo complexes under construction in key agricultural zones, including Beitbridge, Gwanda, Lupane, Gokwe, Masvingo, and Timber Mills in Mutare. Each site will have a capacity of 8,000 tonnes, collectively boosting Zimbabwe’s preparedness for future droughts, stabilising food prices, and strengthening its strategic grain reserves.
President Mnangagwa noted that the expanded silo network will ensure food availability even in drought-prone areas and allow the country to store enough grain for up to three years at any given time.
He urged farmers to increase cereal production and encouraged the use of traditional and modern agricultural knowledge to support national food security goals.
In addition to improving infrastructure, President Mnangagwa reiterated the Government’s commitment to enabling fair market access through policies such as the recently announced 2024/25 summer cropping producer prices and the 2025 winter wheat incentive.
He called on institutions of higher learning and the private sector to support agricultural innovation, especially in developing on-farm storage solutions and home-grown technologies to reduce freight costs and post-harvest losses.
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