Known, in the past, as the bread basket of Southern Africa, Zimbabwe's economic stability and agricultural strength was a reference point for most people involved in Africa. For over 10 years the situation changed. President Robert Mugabe's decision in 2000 to redistribute the land to the black population saw the country lose about $12 billion in agricultural output. The Commercial Farmer's Union said that previous to the government seizing commercial farms, white farmers held up to 70 percent of the most arable land, though made up less than 1 percent of the population. However, in the last three years there has been an upturn with an optimistic view that Zimbabwe can come in out of the cold.

In September 2008, a power-sharing agreement was reached between Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, in which Mugabe remained president and Tsvangirai became prime minister. The fragile yet functioning power-sharing government has allowed the country to see a future and to maintain a fragile yet so far stable political understanding.

With Tsvangirai moving ahead to redress Zimbabwe's damaged economy, he has highlighted essential areas that need special attention. Leading a strong delegation to the Agribusiness Forum in Johannesburg in October, he said,"Agriculture is the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy, and as such it must be supported. We must move from food crisis to food security. The country requires strategic partners as well as strategic investors to move forward on a sustainable economic path. We cannot say enough of what needs to be done in Zimbabwe.''

The African Institute for Agrarian Studies (AIAS) estimates that land reform has reduced the extent (now around 40 percent) and intensity of land use. However, new forms of financing agriculture, including credit and sub-contracting, new joint ventures, state credit and support schemes have emerged, although limited in area coverage.

Certain countries are eyeing the potential that Zimbabwe has to offer now that there is renewed political stability: During an Africa-China summit in 2006, China pledged to assist African countries to build 10 pilot agricultural technology centers across the continent over the following three years. The training center in Zimbabwe was begun in October 2009 and is now almost complete. It is on a leading pre-existing agricultural college, Gwebi, located 27 km out of capital city Harare. The new center covers an area of approximately 109 hectares, and includes a demonstration field of 80 hectares. The first crops (maize, wheat, soya beans and potatoes) were planned for October planting, just before the onset of Zimbabwe's rain season.

Acknowledging that Zimbabwe has lost its former status as the "bread basket of Southern Africa," Prime Minister Tsvangirai has identified clear objectives to ensure growth. "The government must create a Land Bank that will give loans to farmers and extension and training services need to be improved. The country needs to assist farmers with regards to inputs to small-scale farmers, until the commercial farming sector has been organized."

Although the country's agricultural recovery has been slow, it accounts for 19 percent of the country's GDP, 25 percent of the country's export earnings and employs 500,000 people.

In an effort to stabilize the sector, the Ministry of Finance is proceeding to rationalize the use of 99-year leases as collateral to allow farmers to borrow money. In addition, there has been recognition that more has to be done to ensure the timely disbursement of inputs and fertilizers and to see that harvests and yields are not affected.

In November 2010, the IMF described the Zimbabwean economy as "completing its second year of buoyant economic growth after a decade of economic decline," mentioning "strengthening policies" and "favorable shocks" as main reasons for the economic growth.

The future of agriculture in Zimbabwe is closely bound to the country's political fortunes: political stability, macroeconomic stability, maintenance of law and order, long-term security of tenure and incentive pricing for commodities are all cited as necessary for reviving the sector.

There is still global skepticism about real stability in terms of economic and political growth. What is certain is that Tsvangirai is trying to achieve this on both fronts. The potential is there and the country is endowed with competent human resources and natural resources. Tsvangirai is focusing on a message of hope with the emphasis that the country's goal is to move away from the current political crisis and move toward an economic thrust to improve the livelihoods of the population.

The writer is Communications Manager of EMRC – an internationally renowned organization providing a platform for Africa's private and public sector to come together - www.emrc.be