Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare in ZHOMBE
THE Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) will place at least 75 000 hectares under irrigated maize in the forthcoming summer cropping season as Government intensifies measures to safeguard national food security ahead of the anticipated 2026/27 El Niño-induced drought.
The programme forms part of a broader climate resilience strategy that combines irrigation, strategic grain production, climate-smart seed development and farmer support to cushion the country against erratic rainfall.
ARDA chief executive officer Mr Tonotenda Mhiko said the authority was shifting Zimbabwe’s food production model from reacting to droughts to preparing for them through sustained investment in productive agriculture.
“As a country, we have learnt from previous droughts that food security cannot be built during a crisis. It must be planned and invested in ahead of time,” he said.
“This is why ARDA has developed a production model that combines commercial production, farmer support, irrigation development, climate-smart technologies and strategic partnerships.”
Mr Mhiko said the summer production strategy would see at least 75 000 hectares placed under irrigated maize, while areas less suited to maize production would focus on traditional grains such as sorghum and millet, which are better adapted to changing climatic conditions.
The initiative is expected to strengthen national grain supplies while reducing the risks associated with rainfall variability.
Beyond expanding irrigation, ARDA is also scaling up climate-smart seed production to improve crop performance under changing weather conditions.
“We are also investing in climate-smart seed production because the future of agriculture depends on having varieties that can perform under different climatic conditions,” said Mr Mhiko.
“Productivity is not only about putting land under cultivation; it is about using the right technology, the right inputs and the right knowledge to achieve higher yields.”
The authority is complementing production with increased support to farmers through technical assistance, input support and innovative financing arrangements.
Mr Mhiko said about 32 percent of ARDA’s production was financed directly by the authority, while the balance was supported through bank guarantees, enabling more farmers to participate in commercial agriculture.
“Through our partnerships with farmers, ARDA is providing technical expertise, production support and facilitating access to finance,” he said.
Technology is also becoming central to the authority’s operations. Mr Mhiko said ARDA was embracing precision agriculture, digital monitoring systems, irrigation automation and data-driven decision-making to maximise productivity while improving efficiency.
“In a climate-constrained environment, efficiency is no longer optional—it is the foundation of sustainable agriculture,” he said.
The authority is also implementing an ambitious irrigation expansion programme, targeting 25 000 hectares under irrigation by 2030 to reduce dependence on rainfall and strengthen long-term agricultural resilience.
During a tour of ARDA estates and supported farms in the Midlands Province, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development chairperson Hon Felix Maburutse commended the authority for strengthening production through partnerships with farmers.
“Our farmers, even the small-scale farmers, are crucial to the Government because they make up the majority,” he said.
“Once they are empowered and recognised—receiving technical support from ARDA—it ensures that their yield increases significantly. Consequently, this helps make the nation’s Strategic Grain Reserve robust.”
Hon Maburutse said the combination of ARDA’s commercial production and joint venture model demonstrated that Zimbabwe was building a strong foundation for national food security.
“Through these joint ventures, coupled with what ARDA is independently achieving, it demonstrates that as a country, we will not face hunger as long as people continue utilising the agricultural land available through ARDA,” he said.
