Open Access

Sorghum is a climate-resilient crop with significant potential to support food security and livelihoods in semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe. However, its value chain continues to underperform, limiting its contribution to sustainable and inclusive agrifood system transformation. This study analyzes the sorghum value chain in Mbire district through an agroecological lens to understand how market structures, institutional arrangements, and actor behavior shape economic, ecological, and social outcomes. We apply the Rapid Agroecological Value Chain Analysis (RAVCA) methodology embedded within the Structure–Conduct–Performance (SCP) framework, drawing on qualitative data collected from 2023 to 2024. The findings reveal that the sorghum value chain is locked in a low-equilibrium trap driven by centralized grain marketing, restrictive seed governance, weak collective action, and limited incentives for value addition. Although agroecological practices and adaptive farmer strategies are present, hey are weakly supported by markets and institutions, resulting in marginal economic returns and persistent social inequities. The study identifies key leverage points for transformation, including market pluralism, strengthened farmer organizations, differentiated seed systems, and investments in local value addition and labor-saving technologies. Overall, the results demonstrate that realizing sorghum’s agroecological potential requires systemic reforms that align policies, markets, and collective agency to support resilient, equitable, and economically viable value chains.

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Multifunctional Landscapes Climate adaptation & mitigation Environmental health & biodiversity Gender equality, youth & social inclusion Nutrition, health & food security Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs Systems Transformation Resilient Agrifood Systems CGIAR Trust Fund Agroecology