Online Reporter
Nyasha Simbisai
Agriculture Correspondent
The Government has intensified preparations for the 2026/27 summer cropping season by ensuring adequate supplies of climate-smart seed, as part of efforts to cushion farmers against the forecast drier-than-normal season.
Agriculture, Mechanisation, Water and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri, said early planning remained central to Government’s strategy to safeguard national food security, with authorities working closely with seed producers to guarantee the timely availability and distribution of inputs.
Speaking during a tour of Valley Seeds’ Juru Depot in Goromonzi District on Wednesday, Prof Jiri said the Government was leaving nothing to chance by assessing seed production, processing and distribution well before the onset of the rainy season.
The visit forms part of the Government’s nationwide preparedness programme to assess seed availability ahead of the implementation of the Presidential Input Support Programme and the broader 2026/27 summer cropping season.
“We need to plan early for the coming season because indications are that it will be drier than normal,” said Prof Jiri.
“Early planning will enable our farmers to mitigate against drought and maximise production through timely planting.”
He said Government’s immediate priority was to ensure that all critical agricultural inputs, particularly seed, were available in adequate quantities and delivered to farmers on time.
“This is why we are here today to assess progress in seed preparation and processing. For the Presidential Input Support Programme alone, we require about 10 000 tonnes of maize seed and we are satisfied that one of our major suppliers, Valley Seeds, has adequate stocks and processing is progressing well.”
Prof Jiri said the Government was also monitoring compliance with Statutory Instrument 61 of 2024, which makes seed treatment mandatory to protect crops against Fall Armyworm from the point of planting.
“We also wanted to verify that the seed being processed is being treated in line with the statutory requirements,” he said.
“Protecting seed against Fall Armyworm is an important intervention in strengthening crop establishment and improving productivity.”
He said the expected climatic conditions called for wider adoption of climate-smart seed varieties capable of performing under shorter rainfall seasons.
“We need to ensure that farmers access the correct seed. Given the expected dry conditions, we require adequate supplies of ultra-early maturing, early maturing and medium maturing varieties,” he said.
“We are pleased that we have sufficient quantities of these climate-smart varieties ready for distribution.”
Prof Jiri said Government would continue implementing its agro-ecological planning strategy, under which seed distribution is tailored to the country’s five natural farming regions to improve productivity and reduce climate-related risks.
“The environment must determine what farmers grow. Regions One, Two and Three are naturally suited for maize production, while the drier Regions Four and Five will prioritise traditional grains, which are better adapted to those conditions,” he said.
He said the approach would ensure farmers received seed varieties best suited to their local rainfall patterns and production potential.
To facilitate timely distribution, Government has already designated Grain Marketing Board depots across the country as input distribution centres.
“As seed becomes ready from suppliers, it will immediately be delivered to designated GMB depots,” he said.
“Where necessary, we will also utilise virtual depots, allowing seed to move directly from suppliers to farmers without unnecessary offloading and reloading.”
Prof Jiri said distribution committees had already been established to ensure inputs reached beneficiaries efficiently.
“Our distribution committees are already in place and prepared to begin their work once seed reaches the depots,” he said.
“The objective is to ensure that by the time the first effective rains fall, farmers will already have their inputs in hand and will be ready to plant immediately.”
He said timely planting would be critical to maximising yields during a season expected to receive below-normal rainfall.
Government has in recent years strengthened climate-smart agriculture through conservation agriculture, irrigation development, improved seed technologies and agro-ecological planning as part of broader efforts to build resilience against climate change.
Inspections of seed houses and input suppliers are continuing nationwide as preparations for the 2026/27 summer cropping season gather momentum, with authorities expressing confidence that adequate seed stocks and an efficient distribution system will ensure farmers receive appropriate inputs in time for planting.
With seed processing advancing and distribution logistics already being activated, Government says the priority is to ensure every farming household is equipped to plant with the first effective rains and sustain national food security despite the challenging seasonal outlook.
