With sleek metallic towers now dominating the skyline at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depot in Mutare, Zimbabwe is making a bold leap into the future of agriculture. The construction of state-of-the-art, Artificial Intelligence-powered grain silos is nearing completion, and by the end of July, Manicaland will host one of the country’s most advanced post-harvest handling facilities, setting a new standard for food security and agro-industrial modernisation.
The Mutare project, one of 14 silo sites under construction nationwide, is part of a sweeping government strategy to reinforce Zimbabwe’s grain storage and processing capacity. At full capacity, each site, including Mutare’s, will handle up to 56,000 metric tonnes of grain. The integration of AI technology is expected to significantly reduce post-harvest losses, improve crop quality monitoring, and streamline intake and dispatching processes.
Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr. Anxious Masuka, toured the facility this past Friday and confirmed the project is already 80% complete. “Mutare GMB depot is one of the 14 sites that are under construction. These Artificial Intelligence-powered modern storage facilities carry 56 000 metric tonnes at each of the 14 sites. They should be done by July 20 in time for the wheat intake,” he said. “Recently, the President commissioned AI silos at Kwekwe, so these are a replica of the ones in Midlands. The modern thing is that they come with dust extractors, and there is an inbuilt 100-tonne-an-hour dryer depending on the moisture content at intake.”
Beyond just capacity, the technology within these facilities marks a significant departure from the conventional silo systems. The dryers and moisture control systems will allow farmers to store grain safely at optimum conditions, reducing dependence on middlemen and post-harvest spoilage. Acting Provincial Mechanisation Engineer for Manicaland, Engineer Farai Nyamhunga, detailed the technical progress: “We have constructed seven silos, each with a capacity of 8 000 metric tonnes, bringing the total to 56 000 metric tonnes. We have completed the installation of the silos, the drying tower, the cooling tower, and the moisture control room. Construction of the furnace room, the core warehouse, the dispatching room, and the power room is currently underway.”
For Manicaland, a province that continues to make strides in agricultural production, the new facility arrives at a strategic moment. Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, noted that Manicaland has already harvested over 471,000 metric tonnes of maize and traditional grains combined this season. “With ongoing revamping of irrigation schemes and the construction of more dams, agricultural productivity is expected to rise, making adequate storage facilities even more critical,” he said.
Analytically, the Mutare silo complex is more than just a civil engineering feat, it is a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s evolving food security ecosystem. By integrating technology, decentralising storage, and anticipating climate-induced shocks, the government is laying the groundwork for a more resilient and self-sufficient agricultural sector. The AI-powered silos signal Zimbabwe’s commitment to reducing post-harvest losses, maintaining strategic reserves, and supporting commercial-scale farming that benefits both smallholders and large producers.
The ripple effects are vast: improved grain management could bolster exports, stabilise domestic supply, and shield the country from future food price volatility. For farmers, it offers greater confidence to scale up production, knowing that world-class storage infrastructure is no longer a distant dream, but a reality within reach.
As the July completion date approaches, Zimbabwe’s grain landscape is being reimagined, and Mutare’s silos are standing tall, not only as symbols of modern agriculture, but as a testament to what’s possible when technology, policy, and productivity align.
