The Government of Zimbabwe has stepped up preparations for a challenging 2026/27 summer season, rolling out an expanded drought mitigation programme while strengthening national food reserves, irrigation capacity and livestock support measures in anticipation of a strong El Niño-induced dry spell.
An update presented to Cabinet by Agriculture Minister Dr Anxious Masuka showed that Zimbabwe’s Strategic Grain Reserve has reached 365,688 metric tonnes, putting the country closer to its target of building a 600,000-tonne reserve by October 2027.
The Grain Marketing Board’s stocks have been bolstered largely by deliveries from the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), which accounted for more than 90% of grain received into the reserve system.
Government is also drawing support from communities through the Presidential Gratitude Grain Collection programme, under which households contribute 10 kilogrammes of grain. Collections have reached 8,678 tonnes, exceeding last year’s level by 19%.
Field preparations for the summer cropping season are advancing, with 14.97 million Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots established, representing 93.3% of the targeted area. Authorities have also set up 914 Ward Drought Mitigation Centres across rural Zimbabwe to coordinate local response efforts.
To reduce dependence on rainfall, irrigation development has expanded to 308,969 hectares nationwide, with 119,068 hectares earmarked for maize production during the coming season.
Zimbabwe’s winter wheat programme has also delivered another strong performance. Of the 130,316 hectares planted, 129,860 hectares have been harvested, producing 676,473 tonnes at an average yield of 5.2 tonnes per hectare.
The livestock sector remains vulnerable, however. Government estimates that 2.25 million cattle, equivalent to 38.9% of the national herd, could face drought-related risks if dry conditions intensify.
Meanwhile, household resilience programmes continue to expand. Since their launch, the Presidential Poultry and Goat Schemes have distributed more than 3.5 million chicks and nearly 6,900 goats under community pass-on arrangements.
The latest Cabinet update reflects a shift toward proactive drought management, with policy efforts focused on food stocks, irrigation expansion, crop production and livestock preservation. As weather forecasts point to below-normal rainfall, the effectiveness of these measures will play a critical role in maintaining food security and supporting agricultural output during the 2026/27 season.
