Online Reporter
Lonester Mutata-Herald Correspondent
THE seed industry has been challenged to place climate resilience at the centre of the upcoming summer cropping season by ensuring farmers receive seed varieties suited to their agro-ecological regions, as Government intensifies preparations to mitigate the possible impact of a predicted El Niño season.
The call was made by the Permanent Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, at a high-level engagement with representatives of seed houses in Harare recently, where Government outlined the critical role of the seed sector in the successful implementation of the Summer Plan.
With forecasts pointing to a drier season, Prof Jiri said early preparation, strategic seed selection and climate-smart production systems would be critical in protecting farmers from possible weather-related shocks.
He encouraged seed houses to move beyond general seed distribution approaches and ensure that farmers are supplied with varieties that match the conditions of their farming regions.
“We are emphasising agro-ecological matching. Low-potential regions should be given crops suitable for those areas,” he said.
“We urge seed houses to consider agro-ecological tailoring in the supply of seed because, with El Niño, we need to focus on climate-smart varieties in our fight against its possible effects.”
Prof Jiri said the anticipated dry conditions required greater emphasis on early- and medium-season varieties, particularly those capable of delivering meaningful yields within shorter growing periods.
He also called for renewed focus on traditional grains, which have historically demonstrated resilience in dry environments and remain an important pillar of Zimbabwe’s climate adaptation strategy.
“We may need to consider the popularisation of traditional grains this season. Let us focus on climate-smart maize varieties and climate-smart varieties of traditional grains,” he said.
The engagement between Government and seed houses comes at a time when the country is strengthening preparedness for the 2026/27 summer season through the implementation of the Summer Plan, which seeks to enhance productivity, improve resilience and secure national food supplies despite emerging climatic and global economic uncertainties.
Prof Jiri said that while the exact severity of the predicted El Niño remained uncertain, the possibility of reduced rainfall required proactive measures.
“We know there is going to be an El Niño, but we do not know how severe it will be. What we know is that it will be drier, and that is why we had to meet with you,” he said.
Beyond climatic risks, the Permanent Secretary highlighted growing concerns over fertiliser availability arising from disruptions to global supply chains, including geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East.
Government has introduced measures, including allowing duty-free importation of fertilisers, to boost availability.
Prof Jiri encouraged industry players to take advantage of the facility to ensure adequate supplies ahead of the planting season.
“These are the two issues that caused us to meet today. It is Government’s thrust that we must prepare early,” Prof Jiri said.
He commended the seed industry for its continued contribution to national food security, saying the sector had remained a dependable partner in maintaining Zimbabwe’s seed systems despite various challenges.
He added that the consistency of seed availability had helped position the country as a leader in seed security within the region.
“We appreciate the support that the seed industry continues to provide to the country’s food security thrust.
“Because of this, Zimbabwe continues to be a beacon in Southern Africa. Even though there may be challenges, the seed industry has ensured that seed remains consistently available,” he said.
The meeting also explored long-term strategies to strengthen the country’s seed sovereignty, including the establishment of strategic seed reserves and increasing production capacity to generate surpluses for regional markets.
As the country prepares for a challenging agricultural season, Government said collaboration with the private sector remains central to building a climate-smart agricultural system capable of sustaining production, protecting livelihoods and advancing the national food security agenda.
The engagement marked another step in Government’s broader drive to ensure that farmers enter the season armed with the right inputs, appropriate technologies and knowledge required to navigate changing climatic conditions.
