Online Reporter
Oliver Kazunga
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has stepped up electricity supply for winter wheat production this season to 155 megawatts, an 8 percent increase from last year, in a major drive to secure a record 662 000-tonne harvest and deepen Zimbabwe’s push towards long-term food self-sufficiency.
The expanded power allocation underscores a growing shift in national agricultural planning, with authorities increasingly integrating energy security into crop production strategies as Zimbabwe seeks to consolidate gains made under its food security programmes.
Zimbabwe is targeting 125 000 hectares under winter wheat this year, up from 122 142ha planted in 2025 when the country achieved a record 642 000 tonnes, well above annual requirements of 350 000 to 450 000 tonnes.
For years, Zimbabwe relied heavily on wheat imports to cover local shortages caused by erratic production, foreign currency constraints and irrigation challenges.
But improved irrigation infrastructure, increased mechanisation and stronger Government support have transformed winter wheat into one of the country’s most successful agricultural recovery stories.
Responding to questions from Zimpapers last week, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said the enhanced electricity allocation was the result of deliberate planning between the agriculture and energy sectors.
“When we planned for the winter season, we targeted 125 000ha, which will produce 662 000 tonnes.
“We co-planned with the Ministry of Energy and Power Development and we have an energy-agriculture working group.
“This year, 155MW will be made available, and there is ring-fencing of that power and we heard today that the country is generating between 1 700MW and 1 800MW,” he said.
The 2026 winter cropping programme falls under the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 and the National Development Strategy (NDS2), seeks to accelerate agriculture growth and rural development in pursuit of Vision 2030.
Dr Masuka said the electricity would be channelled to organised production clusters to ensure uninterrupted irrigation throughout the season, widely regarded as the single most critical factor in winter wheat productivity.
The move reflects lessons drawn from previous seasons, when intermittent power supply disrupted irrigation cycles, affected yields and weakened farmer confidence.
“The expectation is that there will be sufficient power and that’s the promise that we have from the relevant ministry,” he said.
Agricultural experts say the ring-fencing of electricity for winter cropping is increasingly becoming central to Zimbabwe’s broader food security architecture, particularly as climate variability continues to pressure rain-fed agriculture.
Reliable irrigation remains the backbone of winter cropping and any instability in power supply can have immediate and severe consequences on yields. By guaranteeing electricity for farmers, authorities are seeking to stabilise production and protect output against operational disruptions.
The formation of an energy-agriculture working group has also strengthened coordination between the two sectors, aligning electricity generation and distribution with peak farming demands.
Zimbabwe’s electricity outlook has improved markedly in recent months, with generation now averaging between 1 700MW and 1 800MW, compared to significantly lower levels last year.
The recovery has been supported by improved water levels at Kariba Dam, easing pressure on electricity supply and improving prospects for sustained irrigation during the winter cropping season.
According to an update released by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) at the end of March, water levels at Lake Kariba were steadily rising following increased rainfall activity and improved inflows from the Zambezi River. The authority reported that the lake level had reached 479,10 metres, marking a significant improvement compared to the 476,83 metres recorded during the same period last year.
The increase translates to 25,28 percent usable storage capacity for power generation, up from 9,18 percent during the same period in 2025.
Consequently, ZRA indicated that usable live storage volume has also risen to 16,38 billion cubic metres (BCM), a notable recovery from 5,95 BCM recorded the same period last year.
The continued rise in water levels is expected to bring relief to the energy sectors in both Zimbabwe and Zambia, which rely heavily on hydropower from Kariba.
Lake Kariba is designed to operate between 475,50 metres and 488,50 metres, with a freeboard of 0,70 metres, to support efficient hydropower generation.
The winter wheat programme has become a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s food security strategy, aimed at reducing dependence on imports and insulating the country from global grain market volatility.
With international supply chains increasingly unpredictable, boosting domestic production has evolved into both an economic and strategic imperative.
If the projected 662 000-tonne target is achieved, the country will this year sustain and consolidate its national wheat requirements and build strategic reserves, marking another milestone in the country’s agricultural transformation.
Meanwhile, winter wheat planting has started across the country, with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) saying it is on track to meet and potentially surpass its 65 000ha winter wheat target for the 2026 season.
The authority’s ambitious target constitutes a significant 52 percent of the national 125 000-hectare goal.
