Online Reporter
Nyasha Simbisai
Zimbabwe can beat the anticipated El Niño-induced dry conditions through early planning and translating climate forecasts into decisive action on farms, the Government has said.
The Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said a below-normal rainfall forecast should not automatically translate into below-normal agricultural production.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe 2026/27 Agricultural Season — A Whole Value Chain Preparedness Summit organised by Zimpapers, Prof Jiri said the focus should shift from merely receiving weather forecasts to helping farmers answer two critical questions: when to plant and what to plant.
The summit is being held under the theme ‘From Climate Forecast to Farm Action: Building a Resilient, Productive and Food-Secure Zimbabwe’.
‘The appropriate response to this forecast is not panic, but proactive planning, informed decision-making and coordinated risk management,’ he said.
Prof Jiri said meteorological information should be translated into practical, localised agricultural advisories covering planting dates, crop and variety selection, soil moisture management, irrigation and livestock water requirements.
He urged farmers to closely follow local advisories and use tools such as rain gauges to guide planting decisions.
Prof Jiri said the thrust was to ensure climate science reaches the farm and drives timely decisions that protect production, livelihoods and national food security.
The event is organised by Zimpapers with SeedCo, Zimnat, Zimplow and Zinwa coming in as sponsors.
