Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
THE Grain Marketing Board is closing in on the Government’s 150 000-tonne summer grain mobilisation target, with 144 000 tonnes already secured as Zimbabwe moves to build a food buffer against a forecast El Niño-induced dry spell.
Only 6 000 tonnes remain, with GMB expecting to complete the target by the end of this week. The latest mobilisation update comes after the 33rd Southern African Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-33) confirmed El Niño conditions for the 2026/27 agricultural season, with below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures expected across much of Southern Africa.
But for Zimbabwe, the announcement has not triggered a last-minute scramble for grain. The country had already begun positioning itself for a difficult season after earlier climate warnings, drawing lessons from the previous El Niño season and adopting a more anticipatory approach to food security — building reserves and putting production measures in place before potential shortages emerge.
GMB chief executive officer Dr Edson Badarai said the progress demonstrated that the country was already positioned to respond to the anticipated drought.
“We want to update the nation that even in the face of the El Niño, GMB is ready—has always been ready,” he said.
“I am happy to announce that as of today, we are on 144 000 metric tons. It means we are left with 6 000, which we should have completed by the end of next week.”
The mobilisation is part of Government’s broader strategy to strengthen the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR), rather than wait for production losses to translate into shortages.
Dr Badarai said the SGR currently stood at 262 000 tonnes, while winter wheat was expected to provide another major inflow from late September or early October.
“The other 150 000 tonnes will be from the winter wheat, which intake we expect from early October or late September. So we are very hopeful that we will meet the target,” he said.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said Government was deliberately spreading grain mobilisation across successive production cycles to maintain supplies even if climatic conditions deteriorated.
“From the previous summer season harvest, farmers have been delivering, and we expect at least 150 000 tonnes into the SGR. In October, we expect a further 150 000 tonnes from winter wheat, and another 150 000 tonnes from the following cycle,” said Prof Jiri.
He said the approach was designed to provide a buffer even under a worst-case scenario where national production could fall below one million tonnes because of climate variability.
The anticipatory approach extends beyond grain storage.
Prof Jiri has challenged agricultural researchers to develop drought-ready seed varieties, livestock breeds and technologies before farmers enter the potentially difficult season.
“Research must lead our response. We cannot wait for the drought to arrive and then start looking for solutions,” he said.
Prof Jiri said researchers should develop varieties capable of withstanding water stress, maturing faster where necessary and using limited water efficiently while maintaining acceptable yields.
ARDA chief executive officer Mr Tinotenda Mhiko said the authority was also using a multi-model production strategy involving commercial estates, A1 and A2 joint-venture farmers, irrigation scheme business units and clustered smallholder farmers.
The approach is intended to spread production across different farming systems while strengthening resilience to climate shocks.
The response is being supported by a diversified production model and greater use of technology.
“ARDA now uses advanced soil testing systems, geographic information systems, satellite mapping and AI-powered yield prediction models,” said Mr Mhiko.
He said the technologies were particularly important in a difficult production environment where farmers face high input costs and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
“For a drought-prone region where fertiliser, fuel and foreign currency are expensive, efficiency matters,” Mr Mhiko said.
