Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure and Precious Manomano
FARMERS must prioritise early-maturing and drought-resistant crops for the 2026-2027 summer cropping season as Zimbabwe braces for a likely Super El Niño-induced dry spell, President Mnangagwa has said.
The President’s message comes against the backdrop of a warning by weather experts who project a 90 percent probability of below-normal rainfall across the region.
Addressing the Zanu PF Women’s League National Assembly midweek, President Mnangagwa said agricultural empowerment under his administration extended beyond inputs to include large-scale mechanisation through ongoing equipment support schemes.
“I, therefore, urge us to plant early maturing and drought-resistant crops to bolster household food security,” he said.
Government, said President Mnangagwa, will do its part to mitigate the impact of the expected drought, further calling on every province to work closely with the responsible ministries, departments, and agencies that relate to agriculture, mechanisation and water, towards capacitating and training women on key aspects of “farming as a business”, agro-processing, finance and climate-smart agriculture.
In tandem with the President’s call, the Government has intensified preparations for the 2026/27 summer cropping season, with farmers being urged to plant short-season, drought-tolerant crop varieties as part of a climate-smart production strategy to cushion the country against the anticipated Super El Niño weather phenomenon.
Cabinet-approved summer cropping plan, already being implemented, which targets 1,8 million hectares of maize and more than 500 000 hectares of traditional grains, with emphasis on conservation agriculture, irrigation development, efficient water management and the adoption of climate-resilient seed varieties.
Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said Government had tailored its summer programme to ensure farmers maximise production despite the anticipated dry conditions.
“We now have the summer plan, which we are busy implementing. In terms of our summer programme, we are targeting 1,8 million hectares of maize and more than 500 000 hectares of traditional grains, together with other strategic crops that we normally produce,” he said.
“The summer plan as approved by Cabinet will be implemented. We know, of course, that there has been a focus on a drier-than-normal rainfall season coming.
“We are planning on five fronts and, of course, the sixth front is coordination and early warning. First, ensure we focus on the Strategic Grain Reserve build-up. We are encouraging our farmers to ensure that at household level they keep their food.”
Prof Jiri said Government was also encouraging farmers to market surplus grain through the Grain Marketing Board while millers and other stakeholders maintained adequate grain stocks to strengthen national food security.
He said climate-smart agriculture would remain central to the 2026/27 summer cropping programme, with farmers being encouraged to grow crops suited to their agro-ecological regions.
“The crop that is grown by the farmer must be dictated by the agro-ecological region. Secondly, Pfumvudza/Intwasa is key and becomes of paramount importance, so we must ensure that we do soil conservation.
“Third in this category is to ensure that we grow our traditional grains. Variety suitability is critical and we know that Regions Four and Five are more suitable for our traditional grains.
“We emphasise that farmers must grow traditional grains in those regions. We also want our farmers to use the correct seed variety, which is climate-smart. The shorter and harder the season means we must grow those varieties that are early to medium and that is what we are encouraging.”
The Government is encouraging farmers to adopt early-maturing maize hybrids and drought-tolerant traditional grains to improve productivity under shortened rainfall seasons while expanding irrigation and promoting conservation agriculture to reduce climate-related production risks.
Prof Jiri said preparations had also been completed to ensure farmers access production funding ahead of planting.
“We have already put our farmers into the usual funding options, including private sector financing, Government-funded programmes, self-funded farmers, bank-funded farmers and other financing models. We already have them in place to ensure that our planning is as precise as possible as we move towards the planting season.”
He said farmers could also access financing through the Food Crop Contractors Association, banks under the National Enhanced Agriculture Productivity Scheme and other financiers.
Government has also prioritised livestock protection under the preparedness programme.
“We are also emphasising various livestock options to ensure that interventions for livestock carry our national herd through the dry season,” said Prof Jiri.
He said disease surveillance, dipping, vaccination, supplementary feeding and improved nutrition would help protect livestock during the anticipated dry spell.
At provincial level, Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) has intensified campaigns encouraging farmers, particularly those in drier regions, to adopt traditional grains and climate-smart farming practices.
ARDAS Matabeleland South provincial director Mrs Shupikai Sibanda said water security remained central to the province’s drought preparedness programme.
“Water security is a priority because we want to ensure that animals have an adequate water supply. The ministry is drilling boreholes and solarising boreholes in every village.
“This programme is also extended to dip tanks and grazing areas. Drought mitigation centres are also being established in every ward. De-silting of dams across the province is also underway to increase water holding capacity.”
Mrs Sibanda said drought mitigation task teams had been established from ward to provincial level to coordinate preparedness programmes and mobilise resources.
“Farmers will be supported to plant drought-tolerant fodder crops such as lablab, velvet beans and forage sorghum. As a department, we have intensified training and education on fodder production so that farmers prioritise producing feed for their animals.”
Meanwhile, Kutsaga Research is strengthening its climate-smart breeding programme to equip tobacco growers with varieties capable of withstanding drought, heat stress and changing rainfall patterns.
Kutsaga chief executive Dr Frank Magama said developing resilient varieties remained central to protecting farmer incomes, maintaining production and preserving Zimbabwe’s competitiveness on the global tobacco market.
“Looking ahead to the 2026/27 agricultural season, forecasts suggest an increased likelihood of dry conditions and periods of moisture stress in some production areas.
“Growers are encouraged to adopt climate-smart production strategies that will help safeguard productivity and profitability.”
Dr Magama said Kutsaga had developed drought-tolerant varieties including K RK71 and K RK75, while new climate-smart varieties — T78, T79, T80 and T81 — were under limited release.
“The T78 to T81 varieties were specifically bred for inherently dry and drought-prone environments and have demonstrated good adaptation under conditions of high temperatures and reduced rainfall.”
He said the varieties had performed well in trials conducted in Matabeleland North, Lower Gweru, Masvingo and Karoi, producing yields above 2 500 kilogrammes per hectare under dry conditions and more than 4 000 kilogrammes per hectare under optimum conditions.
