Victor Maphosa

Mashonaland East Bureau

Mashonaland East has held a Provincial Early Strategic Planning meeting for best production for the 2026-2027 summer season, with a call for farmers to plant the right crops in the right ecological zones, particularly when Zimbabwe is facing a possible super El Niño-induced drought.

The meeting was attended by farmers from the province, Government officials, as well as seed companies.

The objective of the meeting was to find a clear plan that can ensure maximum production through various climate change mitigating measures available.

In his remarks, Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Advocate Itayi Ndudzo challenged the province to work in unity and maximise production.

“Let us plan early and use our natural resources wisely. Let us promote the right crops in the right agro-ecological zones,” he said.

“Let us strengthen irrigation, water harvesting and protect our livestock. Let us reduce post-harvest losses.

“Let us strengthen early-warning systems. And let us work together to ensure that Mashonaland East remains a major contributor to Zimbabwe’s food security.”

He said the Government is working with six pillars that anchor measures meant to curb effects of the pending El Niño-induced drought.

“It is important that today’s “summer preparedness dissemination meeting” be understood within the context of the larger national development architecture of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“It has not been planned in isolation. This is a pragmatic implementation of the sure national development trajectory towards Vision 2030, the aspiration of building a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030.

“Aligned with that is the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) which also places renewed emphasis on food and nutrition security, sustainable rural livelihoods and agriculture-led economic growth.

“It is within this national framework that agriculture occupies a strategic position, with the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS2) serving as the sectoral framework for transforming Zimbabwe’s agricultural landscape to guarantee food security, everywhere, every day.”

He said that against the background of the above, the Government had, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, promulgated and adopted six (6) strategic measures for drought mitigation and agricultural resilience, commonly referred to as the summer strategic pillars.

Mr Nomatter Manunure, the provincial director for Mashonaland East in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, said farmers should know that this is not a normal season and it requires careful planning.

“We urge farmers to work closely with our extension officers in their areas. They can be advised on which crop is the best in their areas.

“Also, it is not a good year for livestock, so we gave farmers all the necessary information that can assist them. There will be high temperatures, and this will ignite more incidents of pests and diseases, so farmers should be alive to that.”

He went on to implore farmers to plan ahead of the almost dry season ahead so that they will not be caught off guard.

Mr Patrick Mukunguta from the Meteorological Services Department, who was also part of the officials attending the meeting, clearly narrated what Mashonaland East should expect in terms of rain distribution.

“From October, there are areas like Marondera, Seke, Murehwa, Mutoko and Mudzi that will receive some rain.

However, in November, it is expected that most places across Mashonaland East province will not receive adequate rainfall for planting their crops. The rains will be below normal. Same applies with the month of December.

“In January, February and March next year, the situation will be the same, most areas will receive below-normal rains. This will not be good for crops.”