Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
THE Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has backed the SGR 200ha+ Club’s plans to increase production of drought-tolerant grains as Zimbabwe prepares for an El Niño-induced drought.
The farmers’ organisation is targeting about 60 000 hectares during the 2026/27 summer cropping season, with 40 000ha earmarked for dryland sorghum and 20 000ha under irrigation for maize.
The shift towards sorghum comes as Government intensifies preparations for below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures forecast for the coming season.
SGR 200ha+ Club chairman Mr Tichaona Mapfoche said farmers were ready to support Government’s six-pillar drought mitigation programme, but would require access to key production enablers.
“Our farmer database is approaching 500 farmers and for the 2026/27 summer season we are targeting approximately 60 000 hectares of production,” he said.
“Of this area, approximately 20 000 hectares under irrigation will be dedicated to maize production, while 40 000 hectares will be allocated to sorghum production under dryland conditions thanks to ARDA support.”
The club said it also intends to support Government in rebuilding the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR), targeting at least 25 percent of the required 600 000 tonnes of grains and cereals.
That would translate to about 150 000 tonnes if the target is achieved, although production would depend on the availability of water, finance, inputs, infrastructure and markets.
The development comes as Government places greater emphasis on climate-smart production under its six-pillar drought mitigation framework, which also includes livestock drought mitigation, enhanced grain imports and coordination, financing and early-warning systems.
Mapfoche said the experience of the previous El Niño-induced drought had demonstrated the risks associated with excessive dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
“It reinforced the need to accelerate irrigation development, climate-smart agriculture, conservation farming, appropriate crop choices, water security and farmer capacitation,” he said.
The farmers are also calling for accelerated rehabilitation and utilisation of infrastructure around dams to expand irrigation and unlock additional production ahead of the anticipated dry season.
Mapfoche said affordable finance and inputs would be critical to lowering production costs and increasing grain output.
“If farmers can access affordable finance, irrigation, machinery and inputs, we can increase production, strengthen the strategic grain reserve and ultimately contribute to more affordable maize meal for the consumer,” he said.
The club said its approach would also include mentoring emerging and smaller-scale farmers through its hub-and-spoke model, which it says is aimed at expanding Zimbabwe’s productive farming base.
The farmers said domestic production should remain at the centre of national food security, with stronger linkages between producers, processors, financial institutions and Government.
