Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
Farmers in Bindura have been urged not to panic over the looming El Niño season, but to urgently change the way they farm as Government rolls out a six-pillar strategy to cushion communities from expected below-normal rainfall.
The 2026/27 summer season is forecast to experience below-normal rainfall, with climate experts predicting a strong to very strong El Niño whose peak intensity is expected between October and December before weakening in early January.
Speaking at a farmers’ preparedness meeting in Bindura, agricultural stakeholders said the forecast should not cause panic, but prompt farmers to act early by conserving water, planting drought-tolerant crops, securing livestock feed and strengthening grain reserves.
Genius Fertiliser chief executive officer Mr Ponai Matsenengwa urged farmers to treat the forecast as a warning to prepare rather than a reason to give up.
Bindura is responding by expanding climate-smart agriculture, increasing grain reserves, promoting irrigation and water harvesting, encouraging crop insurance and strengthening livestock drought-mitigation measures.
The national response has six pillars covering the Strategic Grain Reserve, accelerated climate-smart production, financial support, livestock drought mitigation, imports and enhanced imports, as well as early warning and capacity building.
Under the climate-smart production programme, Bindura has doubled its Pfumvudza target, with every household expected to establish at least three plots, including one under sorghum.
Bindura district is targeting 3 376 plots covering 21 066,8 hectares, with 52 01 percent of preparations already completed.
Mr Matsenengwa said farmers should ensure that every plot is mulched to conserve moisture, while extension officers would guide them on reducing fertiliser application because of the anticipated low rainfall.
“Every plot must be mulched, and this will guarantee production for the upcoming season of super El Niño,” he said.
Bindura is also targeting 5 000 hectares under irrigation, benefiting 284 farmers across 16 irrigation schemes.
Farmers with irrigation potential have been urged to plant early and use water efficiently so that supplies can be conserved for winter wheat production next year.
The district is also promoting water harvesting to ensure that rainfall is captured and retained on farms instead of being lost through runoff.
Protecting livestock
The drought preparations extend beyond crops, with Agritex urging farmers to secure livestock feed before pasture deteriorates.
Farmers have been encouraged to bale wheat straw after harvesting, with the department making a hay baler available for hire.
“We need to make sure that our cattle will not die with drought during the upcoming El Niño drought season,” Bindura livestock specialist Mr Panashe Makado said.
Farmers were also warned against selling cattle and goats cheaply when they run out of feed, with stakeholders urging them to prepare fodder in advance.
“Prepare feed in advance by baling wheat straw and grass,” he added, warning farmers to remain alert to middlemen who could take advantage of desperate livestock owners during drought conditions.
