Performance management frameworks in commercial and smallholder farming (the case of Zimbabwe)

Zimbabwe’s economy remains agriculture-based, as it provides the country’s livelihood, employment, and food security. However, the issue of farm productivity and farm sustainability lies in the effectiveness of the performance management frameworks (PMFs) designed and applied within different farming systems. This paper presents literature review on performance management models in the sphere of commercial and smallholder farms in Zimbabwe. Based on empirical research on performance measurement, management practices, institutional structure, and policy instruments, the review compares the nature, drivers, and barriers of PMFs implementation across two systems. The results also reveal that commercial farms, characterized by capital intensity, mechanization and formal management, are better positioned to adopt structured PMFs that align with business and policy objectives. Smallholder farms, on the other hand, rely on informal, advisory-based monitoring of performance which is limited by available assets, access to credit, and existing data collection capacity. The research focuses on evidence gaps concerning farm-level data, which should be integrated by incorporating technical performance indicators into sustainability and viability metrics. The paper concludes with policy and practical recommendations for strengthening farms at both the farm and institutional levels, promoting evidence-based decision-making and agricultural transformation in Zimbabwe.