The upcoming National Agriculture Conference and Expo (NACE) 2026 discussions will be dominated by severe climate threats and El Niño mitigation strategies, following a grim seasonal forecast issued by the Meteorological Services Department (MSD).

Hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development in collaboration with the Agricultural Marketing Authority and Africa Economic Development Strategies, the two-day high-level conference takes place from September 24 to 25, 2026, at the Diamond Conference Centre at the University of Zimbabwe.

The focus on climate adaptation comes as the MSD’s 2026/27 Seasonal Climate Outlook forewarns of widespread below-normal rainfall, driven by a persisting El Niño phase and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole.

The weather agency reported an increased probability of below-normal rainfall nationwide from October to December 2026.

While southern and western regions may see normal-to-below-normal totals between January and March 2027, the remainder of the country will remain trapped in below-normal conditions.

According to the MSD, the upcoming farming season is projected to mirror the historic dry spells of the 2015/16 and 2023/24 analogue seasons, characterised by a widespread failure of the seasonal onset and erratic rain distribution.

In response to the climate outlook, conference deliberations will align directly with the Ministry of Agriculture’s strategic drought mitigation pillars designed under the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy.

The strategic pillars centre on enhancing the Strategic Grain Reserve, accelerating climate-smart production and irrigation development, expanding agricultural mechanisation, incentivising cereal production, strengthening rural livestock and horticulture resilience, and expanding agricultural insurance and financing models.

Delegates will focus on operationalising the government’s climate-proofing initiatives, including 100 percent adoption of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa conservation agriculture model matched strictly to agro-ecological zones, alongside rapid expansion under the Accelerated Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Plan.

Running under the theme “Transforming Agriculture for Resilience, Investment, and Inclusive Growth,” the conference will also see the presentation of the State of the Agricultural Sector Study.