Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
MANICALAND has launched an aggressive multi-pronged strategy to shield farmers from the anticipated El Niño-induced drought, targeting 265 000 hectares of maize, 120 000 hectares of traditional grains and expanded irrigation coverage, while simultaneously rolling out a massive livestock protection programme across the province.
At the heart of the plan is a significant expansion of Pfumvudza spearheaded by the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa, promotion of drought-tolerant crop varieties, early planting and increased irrigation to minimise crop losses under reduced rainfall conditions.
The integrated approach seeks to secure both grain output and livestock bio-security, ensuring that farmers beat crop failure, while insulating herds during what is projected to be a severe and prolonged dry spell between October 2026 and March 2027.
For Manicaland, where dryland agriculture remains dominant and livelihoods are directly tied to seasonal performance, the strategy is not merely reactive, but a structured attempt to institutionalise drought-resilient agriculture, combining early planting, correct varietal selection, irrigation efficiency and livestock bio-security to maintain steady provincial food production and protect rural livelihoods against climate volatility.
Despite forecasts pointing to below-normal rainfall and elevated temperatures across southern Africa, authorities confirmed that major provincial dams hold sufficient reserves to cushion irrigation and domestic water needs, offering critical stability to food and livestock security plans.
Details of the provincial strategy were outlined during the Manicaland Provincial Summer Plan launch held on Monday, where the Provincial Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDS) director, Mr Nhamo Mudada, said funding for grain production will be driven primarily by the Pfumvudza programme, supplemented by self-financing farmers and commercial contracts through the Food Crop Contractors Association of Zimbabwe.
Mr Mudada said the province is deliberately scaling up climate-smart technologies to circumvent the effects of the impending drought, central to this being the significant expansion of Pfumvudza, from 84 000 hectares last season to 174 000 hectares this summer.
“This year, we are targeting 265 000 hectares of maize and 120 000 hectares of traditional grains. Due to anticipated low rainfall we intend to increase land under Pfumvudza from last year’s 84 000 hectares to 174 000 hectares,” said Mr Mudada.
He said last season’s estimated grain production stood at 259 000 metric tonnes against a provincial requirement of 256 000 tonnes for both human and livestock consumption, leaving a narrow surplus of 3 400 metric tonnes.
That tight balance, he said, underlines the need for aggressive productivity measures this season.
Mr Mudada urged extension officers to actively guide farmers towards appropriate drought-resistant and early-maturing seed varieties, rather than allowing El Niño forecasts to discourage planting altogether.
He said only farmers with reliable and sustainable irrigation should attempt long-season maize varieties, and the rest must shift to short and medium-season varieties to match the shortened effective rainy season.
Farmers in natural ecological regions three, four and five, which cover greater parts of Buhera, Mutare Rural, Chipinge, Chimanimani, Makoni, Mutasa and Nyanga, have been advised to prioritise traditional grains such as pearl millet and rapoko, which withstand extended dry spells better than maize.
“This season only those farmers with reliable irrigation should plant long season seed varieties and the rest should go for short and medium varieties. Farmers in natural ecological region five like Buhera, Mutare Rural, Chipinge, Chimanimani and Nyanga should plant traditional grains like pearl millet and rapoko, which withstand long dry spells,” he said.
On wheat, which is currently awaiting harvest, Mr Mudada said the province planted 16 000 hectares against a target of 15 000 hectares, and is expecting a good harvest.
He urged wheat farmers not to destroy stalks after harvesting, but to bale them for cattle feed as part of the drought feed reserve strategy.
The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) will complement the cropping plan with an intensified livestock protection programme targeting 580 000 cattle.
Acting provincial director, Dr Pikitayi Chanaiwa, said the department will rehabilitate 150 dip tanks and enforce compulsory vaccination.
“We will be more thorough and efficient on livestock protection. All cattle must be vaccinated, and Government will provide the vaccines. When we call out for vaccination, all animals and birds must be brought, withdrawal is an offence that will be punished,” said Dr Chanaiwa.
He said the province has set a target to vaccinate 1,3 million chickens against Newcastle, along with 10 000 anthrax doses.
The department also anticipates vaccinating 45 000 cattle against theileriosis, commonly known as January Disease, which remains a major threat during the rainy season.
Dr Chanaiwa acknowledged that overgrazing of pastures is anticipated as grazing becomes scarce, but argued that well-fed and vaccinated animals will be better placed to survive the devastating effects of the El Niño-induced drought.
The cropping pillar of the strategy is also heavily reliant on irrigation. To bolster output, the province has earmarked 17 000 hectares of grain for production under irrigation, up from 13 000 hectares last year.
Provincial Irrigation Engineer, Engineer Tendai Chimunhu, outlined the targeted irrigation hectarage per district — Buhera (350ha), Chimanimani (1 635ha), Chipinge (3 541ha), Makoni (7 000ha), Mutare (800ha), Mutasa (1 600ha), and Nyanga (1 182ha).
Engineer Chimunhu said ongoing rehabilitation of dysfunctional irrigation infrastructure will significantly strengthen the province’s resilience compared to historical drought cycles, particularly the catastrophic drought of 1992.
“Some are saying we are going to have the worst drought this coming season, worse than that of 1992. However, we have made consideration of the fact that in 1992 we did not have Osborne, Muchekeranwa and Marovanyati dams. We will cope with the envisaged drought because we have increased the area under irrigation from what it was in 1992,” he explained.
Active resuscitation projects cited include the Mutema Irrigation Scheme in Chipinge, Chiduku-Ngowe Irrigation Scheme in Makoni District, and Laverstock Irrigation Scheme in Mutasa District, while plans are underway to restore the full 110-hectare operational capacity at ARDA Transau.
This infrastructure work is considered central to ensuring that the expanded irrigation target is not just a paper figure, but a productive reality.
Water availability to support this plan was detailed by Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) provincial head, Engineer Passwell Nyahora, who reported that major dams held approximately 806,46 million litres of water, translating to 87,21 percent total storage capacity.
This represents a notable improvement from 66,67 percent capacity during the same period last year, placing the province in a stronger buffer position ahead of the summer season.
“With the anticipated drought, these are dams the province will rely on to support irrigation activities. Osborne Dam last year this time was at 74,6 percent and this year it is at 89,15 percent; Ruti Dam was at 66 percent and this year it is at 78,14 percent. Osborne and Ruti are key dams as they are the main suppliers of irrigation schemes in Chisumbanje,” said Engineer Nyahora.
He provided further capacity updates across key provincial impoundments. Muchekeranwa Dam stands at 89,2 percent, Small Bridge Dam at 100 percent, Odzani Dam at 87,1 percent, up from 58,21 percent last year, Bangazani Dam at 100 percent, Rusape Dam at 90,17 percent, and Marovanyati Dam at 76,04 percent.
Smaller facilities, including Nerutanga and Zimunya dams, are sitting at 100 percent capacity, while Wenimbi Dam, which feeds the local catchment, remains lower at 31,58 percent.
“We have adequate stock in our dams to push us through for human consumption in our urban settlements and irrigation. We had a target of 65 drought mitigation boreholes, but we have since completed 89. We now have 190 Village Business Units and we will surpass 200. We encourage all the users of water to register with us so that we will be able to plan,” said Engineer Nyahora.
The convergence of expanded irrigation, groundwater development and favourable dam levels arrives at a critical junction ahead of the 2026/2027 summer season, as regional meteorological advisories warn of potential below-normal rainfall patterns.
