Theseus Shambare and Conrad Mupesa, Zimpapers Reporters
FARMERS have been advised to target December as the main planting window for the 2026/27 summer cropping season, provided effective rains have established adequate soil moisture, as the country prepares for an anticipated El Niño-induced dry spell.
Under a phased planting guide unveiled by the Government, farmers are encouraged to use October for land preparation and securing inputs, assess rainfall and soil moisture conditions in November, and plant in December when conditions are favourable.
Farmers who experience planting delays into January are encouraged to switch to short-duration crops and varieties to reduce the risk of crop failure, while those practising rain-fed agriculture have been cautioned against late maize planting.
The strategy emphasises soil moisture conservation, the adoption of drought-tolerant crops and the use of local rainfall patterns and agricultural extension advice to guide planting decisions.
The preparations come as Mashonaland West has prepared 101 000 hectares under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa climate-smart agriculture programme, against a provincial target of 171 000 hectares, as the country intensifies efforts to safeguard national food security.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said farmers should approach the season with careful planning rather than panic, emphasising that forecasts of below-normal rainfall did not necessarily mean crop failure or an absence of rain.
“An outlook is not a declaration that crops will fail or that rain will be absent everywhere. It is a call to prepare early and manage risk rather than abandon planting,” he said.
Prof Jiri said planting decisions should be guided by actual rainfall received in individual localities, soil moisture levels and short-range weather forecasts rather than seasonal projections alone.
He said improved water and grazing availability by late September had provided some relief for the livestock sector, provided farmers continued to follow technical advice on weather developments and animal health.
Prof Jiri also cautioned against assuming that the anticipated El Niño would automatically produce outcomes similar to those experienced during previous drought seasons.
“Historical precedents like the 1997/98 season remind us that strong El Niños do not produce identical outcomes every time. Regional atmospheric circulation and moisture transport can alter trajectories,” he said.
Chief Agricultural Specialist in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr Hillary Mugiyo said soil management would be critical in helping farmers withstand prolonged dry spells and make the most of whatever rainfall they received.
“Healthy soils absorb rainfall, hold moisture, carry crops through dry spells and resist erosion, whereas degraded soils shed water as runoff, lose nutrients, and suppress yields,” he said.
Dr Mugiyo urged farmers to maintain contour ridges and other soil-water conservation structures, practise Pfumvudza/Intwasa, retain soil cover, replenish organic matter and rehabilitate degraded land.
“While we cannot control when or how much rain falls, we can directly influence how much of it our soils retain,” he said.
Prof Jiri advised farmers in traditionally drier southern and western areas to consider drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum, pearl millet and cowpeas, while those opting for maize should prioritise early-maturing varieties and set realistic yield targets.
Mulching, timely weed control, conservation agriculture and staggered planting would also help spread production risks rather than committing all resources to a single planting date.
Director of the Department of Soil Conservation Engineer Bezzel Chitsungo said the phased planting calendar was designed to ensure farmers aligned their agricultural activities with prevailing soil moisture conditions and protected their investments in seed and fertiliser.
“Managing the vagaries of a challenging season requires robust infrastructure and strict adherence to phased planting timelines. Farmers must integrate physical soil-water management structures with a disciplined calendar to protect capital investments in seed and fertiliser,” he said.
Eng Chitsungo emphasised that farmers should avoid planting solely in response to isolated showers, as these might not provide sufficient moisture to sustain crops.
Chief Director of Agricultural Development Advisory Services Mrs Medlinah Magwenzi said extension officers would play a critical role in translating seasonal forecasts into practical decisions at household level.
“Farmers do not navigate these challenges alone. Local Agricultural Business Advisory Officers and extension networks provide vital guidance to bridge broad seasonal frameworks with grassroots realities,” she said.
Mrs Magwenzi said the objective was to safeguard household food supplies, farmers’ labour and investments through informed decisions and appropriate agronomic practices.
She urged farmers not to interpret isolated storms as the beginning of the agricultural season, stressing the importance of sustained rainfall and confirmed subsoil moisture before planting.
“Below-normal rainfall does not mean no rainfall. By maintaining a flexible strategy guided by soil moisture, reliable follow-up rains, sound crop choices and updated short-range forecasts, Zimbabwe’s farming communities can secure food supplies and navigate seasonal uncertainty with confidence,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mashonaland West has intensified preparations for the summer cropping season, with 101 000 hectares already prepared under Pfumvudza/Intwasa against a target of 171 000 hectares.
The provincial programme was launched at Muchiedza Primary School in Makonde District yesterday, with Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Marian Chombo calling on farmers to increase production and help safeguard national food security.
Pfumvudza promotes small, well-managed plots, mulching, timely planting and the efficient use of agricultural inputs to conserve moisture and improve yields under potentially unfavourable rainfall conditions.
Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) acting provincial director Mrs Evelyn Ndoro said the province was encouraged by progress towards its target but urged farmers to intensify preparations.
“This year, we are expecting less rainfall, so we need to double the Pfumvudza production we achieved last year. As a province, we need to reach 171 000 hectares, and we are currently at 101 000 hectares,” she said.
Mrs Ndoro said farmers were taking advantage of recent rains to dig planting basins, while those using mechanised methods were ripping their fields in preparation for planting.
She urged farmers to maintain the momentum so they would be ready to plant once effective rains had set in.
Minister Chombo said Mashonaland West, particularly Makonde District, had an important role to play in ensuring national food security.
“We no longer import maize as we used to in the past when we ran out of grain and had to buy from neighbouring countries. We have said no to that,” she said.
She challenged farmers to maximise the support provided through Government agricultural programmes, saying the province was expected to contribute significantly towards feeding the nation.
“All nine provinces are expecting to be fed by our province, so keep up the good work. This programme is targeted at you, communal farmers, because you are vital in feeding the nation. Do not underestimate your efforts on these plots; these projects will make you rise to greater heights,” she said.
Minister Chombo also urged beneficiaries to contribute at least 10kg of maize or traditional grains to the country’s Strategic Grain Reserve, saying this would complement Government efforts to maintain adequate national grain stocks.
Farmers received input packs containing fertiliser, lime, pesticides, herbicides, maize seed and traditional grain seed to support production during the coming season.
Beneficiary Mrs Beauty Zarima said the assistance had enabled her to prepare for planting after struggling to secure seed.
“I did not have seed yet, but I thank His Excellency the President for availing it to me. Now, when it rains, I have nothing to wait for but to get into the field and feed my family,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Rhoda Mabhiza, said Pfumvudza had become an important part of her family’s food-security strategy.
Mr Justin Mudinga, whose plots were used as demonstration fields during the launch, said he had six plots under Pfumvudza and encouraged other farmers to begin preparations without delay.
He said proper land preparation and adherence to agronomic advice would improve farmers’ chances of harvesting even under limited rainfall.
Chief Nemakonde also received inputs under the ZunderaMambo programme, while communal farmers engaged agronomists on climate-smart farming practices, including mulching, timely planting and proper crop management.
