Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
GOVERNMENT is targeting 290 000 smallholder farmers in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South under the 2026/27 climate-proofed Presidential Inputs Programme, as it steps up efforts to strengthen household food security amid increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns associated with the anticipated El Niño.
Matabeleland South has the largest provincial allocation, with 190 000 beneficiaries, while Matabeleland North is targeting 100 000 farmers, as part of a nationwide programme expected to support 3,5 million smallholder farmers.
The programme forms part of the Second Republic’s agricultural transformation agenda, which seeks to increase productivity, strengthen climate resilience and improve rural livelihoods in pursuit of Vision 2030.
It is also aligned with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which identifies food security, climate resilience and environmental protection as national priorities for the 2026–2030 period. The strategy prioritises climate-smart agriculture, sustainable irrigation and integrated land and water management as key interventions for building a resilient agricultural sector.
At sector level, the programme complements the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy, which seeks to modernise agriculture, improve productivity, strengthen food security and promote value addition while addressing the effects of climate change.
Under the Presidential Inputs Programme, farmers in communal, A1, small-scale commercial, old resettlement and peri-urban farming areas will receive inputs to support cereal, oilseed and vegetable production.
According to the implementation modalities for the climate-proofed Presidential Inputs Programme, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development,
Professor Obert Jiri, said the initiative would support three Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots per household, with input packages tailored to the agro-ecological region in which each farmer operates.
Each plot measures 39 metres by 16 metres, equivalent to 0,0624 hectares, with the three plots intended to help households maximise production from manageable pieces of land.
“The programme will support three Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots (39m x 16m = 0,0624ha) per household, dictated by agro-ecological region-specific crop input packages,” said Prof Jiri.
He said 14 971 621 Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots had been established to date, representing 93,3 percent of the target.
The input package will also include water-retention enhancers, herbicides and chemicals to control fall armyworm, with the aim of improving crop establishment, conserving soil moisture and protecting crops against pests.
The emphasis on agro-ecological tailoring is particularly significant for Matabeleland, where rainfall patterns and agricultural production conditions vary across districts.
Rather than adopting a uniform approach, Government intends to distribute crop inputs according to the conditions prevailing in each farming area, while encouraging farmers to follow recommended conservation agriculture practices.
The implementation model also takes into account the possibility of erratic rainfall, particularly at the beginning and end of the rainy season, with planning guided by a worst-case rainfall scenario.
Under the Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala seNkosi scheme, traditional leaders will also receive support to strengthen community food security initiatives.
The scheme will provide seven plots for each chief, five for each headman and three for each village head.
The ministry said the programme was intended to support smallholder crop production, climate-proof agriculture through agro-ecological input packages and increase the production of cereals, oilseeds and vegetables.
To promote accountability, each household will be allowed only one beneficiary, while farmers must meet specified pre-qualification requirements. Beneficiary lists are also expected to be displayed at ward level to enable communities to verify those selected.
Government has warned against the diversion and illegal sale of agricultural inputs, maintaining a zero-tolerance stance on abuse of the programme, with offenders liable to face penalties.
Provincial launches of the 2026/27 Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme were held in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South last month, with Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard
Moyo and Albert Nguluvhe, respectively, urging farmers to take advantage of the support.
The ministers called on farmers to work closely with Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services officers and the Meteorological Services Department to ensure planting decisions are informed by weather forecasts and local farming conditions.
Farmers have also been urged to prepare their plots early, follow recommended agronomic practices and maintain regular contact with extension officers throughout the season.
The focus on climate resilience is also reflected in the Government’s broader agricultural planning, which recognises the vulnerability of rain-fed farming to droughts and changing rainfall patterns. Alongside smallholder support through Pfumvudza/Intwasa, national policy places emphasis on irrigation development and improved water management to reduce dependence on rainfall.
Cabinet on Tuesday said the 2026/27 Summer Plan was being implemented through strategic coordination between Government and the wider agricultural sector, with each pillar assigned a champion and chaired by a private-sector representative.
The plan includes early warning systems, enhanced communication with farmers and traditional leaders, as well as capacity-building initiatives for farmers and the agricultural extension support system.
