As the 2026/2027 summer cropping season becomes imminent, the Government is stepping up drought mitigation measures, especially with projections of normal to below-normal rainfall. In an interview with The Sunday Mail’s THESEUS SHAMBARE, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development PROFESSOR OBERT JIRI outlined the country’s state of preparedness, the threat of a possible super El Niño, input distribution, irrigation capacity, water security and the measures being implemented to safeguard national food production.
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Q: As Zimbabwe approaches the 2026/2027 summer cropping season, what is the current state of preparedness countrywide, and what key milestones have been achieved so far?
A: Zimbabwe is in a high state of preparedness as we transition from planning to full implementation for the 2026/2027 summer season. Our strategy is anchored in the Cabinet-approved 2026/2027 Summer Plan and its six drought pillars, which ensures a coordinated whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach. We have moved from reactive drought response to anticipatory action.
The milestones speak for themselves.
Farmers have been highly responsive.
As of late October 2026, 14 779 621 Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots had been prepared, which is 92,4 percent of our target of 16 million.
This, together with mechanised conservation agriculture, puts 857 159 hectares under preparation, or 86 percent of our one-million-hectare target, a significant increase from 713 000 hectares last season. Over 2,7 million farmers (90,4 percent) have successfully prepared the minimum required three plots.
We officially launched the national input distribution programme on October 9 in Chivi, Masvingo province, and all provinces have now launched, with distribution underway at the provincial and district levels.
We also enter the season with a strong buffer.
The Strategic Grain Reserve currently holds over 355 373 tonnes, and we are building towards a dedicated reserve of 600 000 tonnes by October 2027. On irrigation, we have made record progress in climate-proofing, developing a total of 67 129 hectares of irrigation in 2026, the highest annual increase in our history.
On top of that, the winter wheat harvest is 98 percent complete, with 670 981 tonnes already harvested from 127 518 hectares.
Our message to farmers is simple: The system is ready, so be ready to plant on the first effective rains.
Q: Given the forecasts pointing towards a possible El Niño-induced drought, what does the latest medium-term weather outlook indicate, and what is your advice to farmers regarding planting dates, effective planting rains and crop selection?
A: The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has indicated a high probability of below-normal rainfall across the country, driven by a projected super El Niño, alongside warmer-than-normal temperatures.
The national outlook points to a season shaped by a very strong El Niño, with an increased likelihood of below normal to normal rainfall. October to December is expected to be below normal with frequent dry spells, although parts of Matabeleland South and Masvingo may receive near-normal rainfall in December.
For January to March 2027, the north and east lean towards below-normal to normal rainfall, while the south and west lean towards normal to below normal. We must remember that El Niño events have become more frequent and severe since 1980, so we must plan with this new reality in mind.
Our advice to farmers is clear and non-negotiable. First, farmers must not wait for Government inputs if the rains arrive; you are encouraged to plant with the first effective rains of 20-40mm. Do not be misled by early scattered showers. Target December as the main planting window, but only once effective rains have established adequate soil moisture.
Second, on crop selection, the principle of agro-ecological tailoring is paramount: the right crop in the right region.
In Regions I and II, farmers should prioritise early-to-ultra-early maize varieties.
In Regions III, IV and V, we strongly advise farmers to plant traditional grains like sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet, together with drought-tolerant legumes such as cowpeas.
There will be no maize distributed under the Presidential Input Programme in Regions III, IV and V. Where maize is grown, farmers should use early and ultra-early maturing varieties, with longer-season maize only under irrigation.
Finally, farmers must ensure they have completed their potholing and mulching to conserve the little moisture available.
Q: How prepared are Agritex officers to support farmers this season? How many are deployed countrywide, and are they adequately equipped to provide timely technical advice, particularly in remote farming communities?
A: Our extension services are the backbone of this season’s drought response, and they are highly prepared.
We have transformed our Agritex officers into agricultural business advisory officers (ABAOs) to reflect the paradigm shift of agriculture as a business.
Currently, we have a total of 5 057 ABAOs; our deployment model places three extension officers in every ward, ensuring farmers remain in constant contact with an officer.
The results of that presence are already visible, as it is through these officers that nearly 14,8 million Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots have been prepared and tracked, province by province, week by week.
We are continuously capacitating our ABAOs with motorbikes, tablets, data and rain gauges. We have developed an e-extension system loaded onto their tablets, regularly updated with current information, meaning an officer in the most remote ward gives farmers the same timely advice as one in a provincial centre.
Furthermore, we have over 4 000 farmer field schools (FFS) operational, which serve as practical learning platforms.
Our officers are being actively trained on climate-smart practices and are taking simplified messages on the six drought pillars to every village. We are also building early warning systems with village heads, headmen and chiefs so that information on pests and weather moves quickly in both directions.
To keep standards high, we are assessing officers on their performance and recognising the best.
Q: What drought mitigation and climate-smart agricultural interventions has the Government rolled out so far, particularly through Pfumvudza/Intwasa, and what contingency measures are in place should the country experience prolonged dry spells?
A: Our response is structured, comprehensive and underway, under six drought pillars: an Enhanced Strategic Grain Reserve; Accelerated Climate-Smart Production; an Integrated Financing Architecture; Livestock Drought Mitigation; Enhanced Imports; and Coordination, Early Warning and Capacity Building.
At the centre is the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, our flagship climate-smart intervention, which we have restructured with 100 percent liming and a 50 percent reduction in fertiliser, complemented by manure, compost and foliar feeds.
The logic is simple: In a dry year, the binding constraint is moisture, not nitrogen, so we are investing in soil health and water retention.
We are distributing liquid lime to address soil acidity, as over 60 percent of our soils are acidic, and providing water retention enhancers (hydrogel). That is why 475 446 farmers have already gathered mulch, and why we are digging more than 640 000 infiltration pits and constructing storm drains and contours.
Should we experience prolonged dry spells, we have robust contingency measures.
Our first line of defence is the Strategic Grain Reserve, which we are building to 600 000 tonnes. We are also offering incentive producer prices of US$432 per tonne for maize and traditional grains to draw grain into the reserve.
To reduce dependence on rainfall, we have targeted 119 068 hectares of irrigated summer field crops and are promoting summer irrigated cereal production, including ring-fencing power with ZESA (Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority). We have established over 2 000 village business units (VBUs), which are solar-powered, one-hectare irrigation hubs.
For livestock, we are operationalising ward drought mitigation centres to provide water and feed during critical periods and are assessing cattle at risk. We are also derisking farmers through index-based crop insurance and pasture index livestock cover, supported by African Risk Capacity. In short, should prolonged dry spells come, we have a plan for the field, the herd and the household.
Q: What is the current status of agricultural inputs distribution, particularly maize and traditional grains seed and fertilisers, and are farmers receiving adequate inputs in time for the planting window?
A: The distribution of inputs is ongoing, having commenced immediately after the national launch on October 9, 2026.
On seed, the position for our key crops is sound. Seed estimates indicate relative adequacy for maize, sorghum and sunflower. Maize seed deliveries to GMB (Grain Marketing Board) depots have already exceeded target. We are, however, candid about gaps in pearl millet, groundnuts, soya bean, sugar beans and cotton, as well as crops such as finger millet, Bambara nuts and sesame.
We are actively working with seed houses to close these gaps, as crop diversification is central to our resilience. On fertiliser, the national requirement for basal and top-dressing is 780 000 tonnes. While inputs are reaching GMB depots, the movement to wards has been slow but is gradually gaining momentum. For instance, we currently have 13 000 tonnes of Compound D against a requirement of 60 000 tonnes, and top-dressing deliveries are at about 40-50 percent of requirements.
To meet the gap, the Government has opened duty-free imports of 200 000 tonnes of basal and 250 000 tonnes of top-dressing fertiliser.
We also have 500 000 litres of liquid lime held at the border due to logistical issues, which we are urgently resolving.
Treasury has released US$10 million to clear outstanding payments and accelerate delivery.
Our priority now is the last mile, moving inputs from depots to wards.
We are prioritising farmers who have completed their Pfumvudza potholing to ensure that only those committed to the programme receive inputs. My call to farmers is clear: Collect your inputs, apply lime, store your seed properly and be ready to plant.
Inputs are for planting, not for selling.
Q: What is the current state of the country’s water reservoirs and are existing water levels and irrigation infrastructure sufficient to sustain agricultural production if rainfall performs below expectations?
A: National dam levels: 83,1 percent full as of October 2026, significantly higher than the historical expected average of 61,8 percent for this time of the year.
Regional variances: Highest in Masvingo (93,4 percent) and Manicaland (80,7 percent); lower in Mashonaland Central (53,1 percent) and Harare (31,4 percent).
Major strategic dams: Tugwi-Mukosi stands at 99,2 percent, Mutirikwi at 89 percent and Osborne at 84,2 percent.
Lake Kariba stands at 34,6 percent, showing a massive recovery compared to last year’s 9,7 percent on the same date.
Sufficiency of resources for low-rainfall scenarios
Current storage provides a robust national buffer capable of sustaining production even if the 2026/2027 rainfall season performs below expectations.
Crop support capability: Tugwi-Mukosi alone has the capacity to support at least 40 000 hectares of agricultural production.
Urban/rural raw water security: Over 95 percent of urban centres have sufficient raw water to last between 10 and 21 plus months (Harare has 20,6 months; Kwekwe has 23,1 months).
Infrastructure readiness and key interventions
Maximise equipped hectares: Fully exploit the 308 967 hectares currently under irrigation (which recently supported 126 371ha of winter wheat).
Unlock latent potential: Fast-track development on 86 036 hectares already equipped near major dams and tap into 146 405 hectares of additional irrigation potential.
Reconciliation strategy: ZINWA (Zimbabwe National Water Authority) is executing a “dam-to-hectare” water reconciliation process to strictly match available water with realistic planting targets.
Deploy technology: Roll out diverse climate-smart systems, including centre pivots, drip irrigation, hose reels and solar-powered pumping.
Rural mechanisation: Maintain the 75 493 functional water points and aggressively rehabilitate the 8 594 non-functional points alongside the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme (6 247 boreholes drilled).
Critical bottlenecks and operational imperatives
Water and production: Stored water does not automatically guarantee food security or household taps; it depends heavily on functional pumping infrastructure, reliable electricity and operational distribution networks.
The “dam as an economy” model: Shifting focus from mere water storage to creating integrated economic hubs supporting irrigation, fisheries, aquaculture and renewable energy.
