Agro-concern Ariston Holdings Limited (Ariston) is pushing to reduce dependence on Zimbabwe’s unreliable power grid, whose costs are threatening farm profitability, by shifting toward renewable energy.
For an agricultural business already battling climate shocks, liquidity constraints and weaker production, electricity has become another critical front.
Ariston’s latest annual report shows that the company is increasingly turning to renewable energy as a defensive strategy, positioning solar infrastructure not just as an environmental measure, but as a survival tool.
“Increases in key production inputs cost such as electricity, fertilisers, and crop chemicals continued to pressure operations during the past financial year,” chairman Michael Bailey said.
Ariston said its Southdown Estate solar installation helped reduce dependence on diesel generators and ease some operational costs, even though gains were partially offset by higher grid tariffs.
“Management initiatives, including the adoption of solar energy solutions, helped mitigate some of these cost pressures,” Bailey said.
Zimbabwe’s erratic electricity supply has become a persistent headache for industrial operators, particularly agricultural processors reliant on refrigeration, irrigation pumping and factory operations.
The company consumed 727,350 kilowatts of solar power during the reporting period, according to its sustainability disclosures, part of a longer-term strategy to expand installations across other estates.
The energy transition comes as Ariston attempts to stabilise after another bruising year.
Revenue declined 21 percent to US$5.6 million, while tea production collapsed 51 percent due to climatic and agronomic challenges. Macadamia output also dropped 22 percent.
Chief executive Leon Nortier said reducing operational inefficiencies remains central to recovery efforts.
“The group will continue to focus on production efficiencies, cost containment and quality improvements to support operational recovery,” he said.
Industry observers say Ariston’s energy strategy reflects a wider shift among Zimbabwean producers, where unreliable electricity is increasingly forcing companies to become self-generators.
For Ariston, whose estates require consistent power for tea processing and irrigation operations, the stakes are especially high.
The group said it intends to expand solar installations to its remaining estates as part of its sustainability roadmap.
Yet, the transition will require capital at a time when liquidity remains tight and the company is already under financial strain.
Still, in a sector where weather cannot be controlled and export markets remain volatile, energy independence may be one of the few variables managements can still influence.