Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
MOS parts of the country received rains on Monday evening, with some areas recording above 10mm.
According to the Meteorological Services Department, the presence of mid-level moisture, coupled with atmospheric instability, resulted in isolated thundershowers over much of the western and northern parts of the country.
“Notable rainfall amounts were recorded at Mvurwi (14 mm), Harare Belvedere (12 mm), and Chinhoyi (3 mm),” it said.
“As moisture content decreased overnight, clear skies and cool conditions prevailed in all areas except in the northern areas where partly cloudy conditions were observed.”
Meanwhile, farmers have been urged to work closely with their extension officers to make informed decisions on which crop to plant during the 2026/27 summer cropping season.
The Government is taking its El Niño response to every district and ward through crop-suitability maps, localised planting recommendations and livestock-resource assessments.
The decentralised approach comes as farmers begin implementing strategies to mitigate the impact of a super El Niño expected during the 2026/27 summer cropping season.
Under the plan, farmers will be guided on what to grow, when to plant and how to conserve limited moisture.
Authorities will identify communities where livestock are most at risk from water and feed shortages.
The permanent secretary for Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Professor Obert Jiri, has been emphasising that agro-ecological matching, growing crops suited to specific natural regions, remains central to building climate resilience.
He said the integration of conservation agriculture programming, application of manure, use of lime to correct soil acidity and proper basal fertiliser application, combined with correct crop selection, was proving effective even under erratic rainfall patterns.
“When you combine agroforestry programming, application of manure, application of lime and putting the right crop for the area, you get good results. Even in a mid-season drought, crops remain strong because of these practices,” Prof Jiri said.
Farmers in natural regions IV and V are urged to prioritise traditional grains such as sorghum and millet, which are better adapted to low rainfall conditions.
In natural region III, traditional grains remain a reliable option due to variable rainfall, while farmers in regions I and II may grow maize under favourable conditions, alongside diversification into small grains where necessary.
“The value of agro-ecological tailoring and matching cannot be underestimated. We must align our agro-ecological regions to our crops,” Prof Jiri said.
