Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare, Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE is poised for another landmark wheat harvest that could significantly strengthen national food security, reduce dependence on imports and cushion the country against a looming drought threat.
This comes as farmers complete winter wheat planting tomorrow.
Latest figures show that 118 185 hectares (ha) of wheat had been planted by Thursday, representing 94,5 percent of the national target of 125 000ha, with the Government confident the remaining hectarage will be planted before the close of the season.
If the target is achieved, Zimbabwe is projected to harvest about 662 500 tonnes of wheat, almost double the country’s annual national requirement of around 360 000 tonnes.
The anticipated bumper harvest comes at a critical time as the Government intensifies preparations for the 2026/2027 summer cropping season, amid forecasts indicating an 80 percent probability of an El Niño-induced drought.
The winter wheat programme has increasingly emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s most strategic agricultural interventions, enabling the country to build grain reserves during a period when climate change is making rain-fed agriculture increasingly unpredictable.
Agriculture experts say the programme marks a major shift in Zimbabwe’s approach to food security, moving from a reactive response to droughts towards a more proactive strategy built on irrigation, strategic reserves and local production.
Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the Government remained confident that the national wheat planting target would be achieved before the June 15 deadline.
“No further extension. We should be able to hit our target by Monday,” he said.
The planting season was extended from May 31 to June 15 following prolonged rains that delayed harvesting of summer crops and slowed land preparation in several parts of the country.
Significantly, land already registered for wheat production has surpassed the national target, reaching 126 875ha.
Prof Jiri said the wheat programme was central to Zimbabwe’s efforts to build resilience against climate shocks.
“We are leveraging the good water levels in our dams to maximise wheat production under irrigation,” he said.
“The objective is not only to achieve self-sufficiency, but to build a buffer against future climatic shocks.
“The forecasts are pointing to a high probability of an El Niño event next season and, as Government, we must prepare in advance. Wheat gives us that opportunity because it is produced under irrigation and is less vulnerable to rainfall variability.”
The strategy is underpinned by favourable water supplies, with national dam levels remaining above 90 percent following a successful rainy season.
This has created ideal conditions for winter cropping and provided Zimbabwe with a unique opportunity to consolidate gains made in wheat self-sufficiency over recent years.
Only a decade ago, Zimbabwe was heavily dependent on wheat imports, spending millions of United States dollars annually to meet domestic demand.
However, sustained investments in irrigation rehabilitation, mechanisation, contract farming and farmer support programmes have transformed the sector into one of the country’s agricultural success stories.
Zimbabwe National Farmers union president Mrs Monica Chinamasa said the strong planting momentum reflected growing confidence among farmers and demonstrated the success of Government investments in irrigation infrastructure and agricultural modernisation.
“What we are witnessing is a clear indication that farmers have embraced wheat production as both a business and a national food security priority,” she said.
The availability of irrigation infrastructure, improved access to inputs and continued Government support have given farmers confidence to invest in production.
“If the current momentum is maintained, Zimbabwe is well positioned to secure another significant wheat harvest while strengthening resilience against future climate-related shocks.”
The anticipated wheat surplus is expected to strengthen the Strategic Grain Reserve, reduce pressure on foreign currency reserves and insulate the country from volatility in global grain markets.
The programme also assumes added importance against growing international uncertainty, particularly concerns over rising fertiliser prices and potential supply chain disruptions linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The Government has already begun implementing measures aimed at protecting local agricultural production from possible global shocks.
Speaking during a recent post-Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said the authorities were taking proactive steps to guarantee food security.
“The 2026/2027 Summer Production Plan seeks to guarantee national food security against the backdrop of unprecedented compounding pressures, including the 80 percent probability of a super El Niño-induced drought and heightened fuel and fertiliser prices,” said Dr Soda.
The authorities are particularly concerned about possible disruptions to global shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for international trade, which could trigger sharp increases in fertiliser prices and affect agricultural production worldwide.
To mitigate such risks, the Government is accelerating efforts to localise fertiliser production and reduce reliance on imports.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka recently said Cabinet had established a dedicated committee to spearhead fertiliser industry localisation.
“In Zimbabwe, we are already discussing the localisation of the fertiliser industry and there is a Cabinet committee that is focusing on that and we have made very important progress in that regard,” he said.
The initiative is being supported by the Mutapa Investment Fund, which has launched a US$153,1 million programme aimed at revitalising Zimbabwe’s fertiliser value chain.
Under the programme, US$5,3 million has already been invested in refurbishing the Dorowa phosphate mine, the country’s sole phosphate producer, while an additional US$10 million has been earmarked for expansion.
Once fully operational, the mine is expected to produce 100 000 tonnes of phosphate concentrate annually, sufficient to support the manufacture of approximately 300 000 tonnes of Compound D fertiliser.
Across the country, provinces are recording impressive planting levels.
Mashonaland West leads, with 30 112ha having been planted followed by Mashonaland Central with 24 763ha and Mashonaland East with 24 601ha.
Manicaland and Midlands have already exceeded their respective targets, highlighting the nationwide commitment to the wheat programme.
As planting concludes tomorrow, the significance of the winter wheat crop extends far beyond agriculture.
It has become a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s national food security architecture, a hedge against climate uncertainty and a key pillar in the country’s broader drive towards agricultural self-sufficiency, import substitution and economic resilience.
With forecasts of a looming drought in the next summer season, the success of the winter wheat programme could prove decisive in safeguarding the nation’s food supplies and protecting millions of Zimbabweans from the effects of climate-induced agricultural shocks.
