Theseus Mauruki Shambare
MASVINGO has doubled its Pfumvudza conservation agriculture target to 2,5 million plots for the 2026/27 summer cropping season, as Government steps up efforts to safeguard food security against the anticipated Super El Niño-induced drought.
The target, which translates to approximately 156 000 hectares, was announced during the provincial Summer Plan Roll-out Launch at Charles Austin Hall in Masvingo, where farmers were urged to embrace climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate the effects of anticipated dry conditions.
The expansion from last season’s one million plots reflects the province’s increased reliance on conservation agriculture to sustain crop production in areas characterised by erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells.
Masvingo Provincial Agricultural Development and Advisory Services (ADAS) Mr Caleb Mahoya said farmers had already prepared 64 percent of the targeted plots, expressing confidence that the province would achieve its ambitious target.
“This season is a real test of resilience for the country at large, especially here in Masvingo, where 85 percent of our land is in Natural Regions IV and V, and the remainder is in Region III,” he said.
“We have set ourselves a target of 2,5 million plots, and so far we are at 64 percent of our target. The farmers have prepared 64 percent of our target, and we are very confident that we will be able to meet our target this season.”
The province is also promoting mechanised Pfumvudza to ease labour constraints and improve the efficiency of land preparation as farmers work towards meeting the increased target.
Mr Mahoya said farmers could use machinery to implement conservation agriculture, noting that labour was becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to secure.
The initiative forms part of the Government’s broader six-pillar drought mitigation strategy, which seeks to strengthen agricultural resilience amid climate-related threats and disruptions to international supply chains affecting the availability of fuel and fertiliser.
Under the provincial summer cropping plan, Masvingo is also targeting 5 120 hectares of irrigated maize, with farmers encouraged to concentrate maize production under irrigation while prioritising traditional grains on rain-fed land.
The approach is informed by the province’s predominantly dry agro-ecological conditions, which make rain-fed maize production particularly vulnerable to seasonal rainfall fluctuations.
Strategic Grain Reserve 200ha Plus chairman Mr Tichaona Mapfoche said farmer capacity-building and knowledge transfer were also critical to ensuring the success of the drought mitigation programme.
He said the organisation was working with the Ministry of Agriculture to roll out workshops across provinces, while promoting a hub-and-spoke model through which farmers would learn improved agricultural practices from established demonstration centres.
“We are encouraging all our farmers to take heed of the advice that is coming from Government through this six-pillar drought mitigation strategy to ensure that we grow crops that are tailored for our agro-ecological regions,” he said.
Mr Mapfoche said farmers should embrace water conservation techniques, including mulching and conservation agriculture, while concentrating maize production under irrigation and growing sorghum on dryland.
Meanwhile, the Government is targeting to build the national Strategic Grain Reserve to 600 000 tonnes, with Masvingo’s annual cereal requirement estimated at 196 000 tonnes.
Mr Mahoya said beneficiaries of the Presidential Input Programme were being encouraged to contribute at least 10 kilogrammes of grain each towards strengthening the national reserve, alongside contributions from the wheat harvest.
The provincial summer plan rollout is expected to support the mobilisation of farmers and agricultural inputs as Zimbabwe steps up preparations for the 2026/27 agricultural season.
