AMA to Crack Down on Non-Compliant Contractors

The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) is tightening regulation on unregistered grain contractors through digital registration and fines, aiming to improve traceability (image source)

The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has announced a sharpened enforcement drive aimed at contractors and traders who bypass official channels for input distribution and grain marketing — a policy push that could reshape supply chains and the informal trading networks that dominate rural Zimbabwe.

Under the new measures, the AMA plans a mandatory digital registration system for contractors involved in input distribution and commodity buying, coupled with fines for non-compliance. Traders at Harare’s Grain Market described initial confusion as compliance officers began spot checks, with one seasoned trader saying registration requirements “add paperwork and potential delays” during peak harvest weeks.

Eyewitness accounts from provincial markets indicate a mixed reception. Small-scale contractors reported frustration at the cost and time needed to register, fearing that compliance expenses will be passed onto farmers through higher service fees. At a rural cooperative meeting in Mashonaland, a cooperative leader argued the policy could curb side-marketing that depresses prices at farm gates but warned that enforcement must be fair and accompanied by simplified processes to avoid excluding small actors.

Regulatory officials justify the crackdown as necessary to improve traceability, prevent illicit cross-border arbitrage and ensure timely delivery of subsidised inputs. An AMA spokesperson said the digital platform will create auditable records and reduce leakages, asserting that better data will enable targeted interventions and protect farmers’ interests.

Independent market analysts raise critical caveats. A supply-chain expert in Harare said traceability tools can benefit markets only when paired with reliable payment systems and transparent licensing. The expert questioned whether rural infrastructure and digital literacy levels are sufficient to support a rapid roll-out, and warned that heavy-handed enforcement could drive commerce back underground, undermining the policy’s stated goals.

Effective registration and compliance could enhance market integrity, protect subsidised inputs and stabilise prices for smallholders. Poorly designed enforcement risks increasing costs for farmers, shrinking formal market participation and entrenching informality.