Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
The Government has assured the nation that there is no need to panic over the projected El Niño-induced drought, as it rolls out its six-pillar response plan to safeguard food security.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe 2026/27 Agricultural Season – A Whole Value Chain Preparedness Summit held in Harare today, the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the whole country and the region should be excited about the six pillars.
“Don’t panic. Let’s respond, but use the six pillars. Wherever you go, gear up to the six pillars,” Prof Jiri said.
He said Pillar One, which is the enhanced Strategic Grain Reserve, is at the heart of the government’s responsibility to feed its people.
“We reserved 150,000 tonnes from the last summer season. From the winter wheat we want another 150,000 tonnes. We are planning to get to 600,000 tonnes. At household level we are urging people to keep and preserve food in their granaries,” he said.
Pillar Two focuses on agro-ecological tailoring of crops and accelerated climate-smart production through Pfumvudza/Intwasa, which is being expanded from 718,000 hectares to 1 million hectares.
Prof Jiri also highlighted the need to curb post-harvest losses, especially horticultural produce, which is experiencing high wastage.
“Avoid loss. A lot of wastage is being discovered, especially in horticultural produce. How do we avoid such waste? We must invest in preservation, value addition, solar drying and improved storage,” he said.
The other pillars include Pillar Three – Integrated Financing Architecture to crowd in the private sector; Pillar Four – Livestock Drought Mitigation; Pillar Five – Enhanced Imports; and Pillar Six – Coordination, Early Warning and Capacity Building.
Prof Jiri said with the six interventions, the national total cereal production for 2026/27 is projected at 1.6 million tonnes, with the government already allowing private-sector and household imports to close the deficit.
