Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
The Government has challenged agricultural researchers to keep pace with changing climate patterns and develop new solutions to emerging challenges as Zimbabwe prepares for the anticipated 2026/27 El Niño-induced summer cropping season.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Professor Obert Jiri said researchers could no longer rely on old studies to address increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, pests and diseases.
Prof Jiri was speaking in Harare on the sidelines of the Directorate of Research, Education and Specialist Services (DRESS) Programme 2 and 3 Second Quarter Review Meeting which brought together Government researchers and other stakeholders to assess progress in research, education and specialist services.
He challenged scientists to get their hands on the deck and intensify research to provide practical solutions for farmers.
“We are facing new climate vagaries which require new research and new solutions. We cannot continue relying on old research to address challenges that are changing every season,” Prof Jiri said.
He said researchers should also take advantage of digital platforms and scientific databases to access the latest research from around the world.
Prof Jiri said the information should then be adapted to Zimbabwean conditions and translated into practical interventions for farmers.
He said research institutions must ensure their work translates into practical solutions for farmers rather than remaining confined to laboratories and research stations.
DRESS, which is responsible for agricultural research and specialist services, has 19 research centres supporting the Government’s research agenda.
Its work covers areas ranging from crop breeding and agronomy to soil science, pest and disease management, horticulture, cotton and livestock.
Among the key research institutions are the Agronomy Research Institute, Crop Breeding Institute, Chemistry and Soil Research Institute, Plant Protection Research Institute, Horticultural Research Institute, Cotton Research Institute and Henderson Research Institute.
Chief Director of DRESS, Dr Dumisani Kutywayo, said the directorate is working to strengthen early-warning systems so that farmers can receive timely information on threats to agricultural production.
“We need to complete the early-warning systems so that we can give farmers information in time,” Dr Kutywayo said.
He said timely information is critical to helping farmers and authorities prepare for threats before they lead to major production losses.
Dr Kutywayo said the anticipated El Niño could worsen pest and disease pressures, making effective early-warning mechanisms particularly important.
“Early warning is about making sure that we know what is coming and we can advise the farmer before the problem gets to the farmer,” he said, adding that research findings should continuously be updated to reflect emerging threats and provide farmers with timely, evidence-based advice.
The push for stronger early-warning mechanisms is part of the Government’s broader strategy to climate-proof agriculture through irrigation development, water harvesting, soil conservation and the promotion of climate-resilient crop varieties.
The calls come as Government seeks to strengthen preparedness for the 2026/27 summer cropping season and reduce the impact of climate-related shocks on agricultural production and food security.
