Theseus Mauruki Shambare
AT LEAST five million Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots are now ready for the 2026/2027 summer cropping season as the Government steps up preparations for a potentially severe El Niño, intensifying efforts to mitigate drought risks and safeguard national food security.
The looming weather threat has placed renewed emphasis on conservation agriculture, irrigation expansion and the cultivation of drought-tolerant traditional grains, with the success of the season hinging on farmers’ preparedness, timely input supplies and the distribution of rainfall.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said Pfumvudza/Intwasa preparations were approaching five million plots, while fertiliser distribution was progressing well, although supplies remained uneven.
The scale of preparations builds on the Pfumvudza/Intwasa conservation agriculture programme introduced in 2020 to improve productivity on small plots, conserve moisture and strengthen household food security.
The urgency is underscored by the Government’s 2026/2027 summer cropping plan, which cites the Meteorological Services Department’s estimate of an 88 to 94 percent likelihood of El Niño conditions during the coming rainy season.
El Niño can disrupt rainfall patterns across Southern Africa, increasing the risk of drought in vulnerable farming areas.
The summer plan warns that the season will test the country’s agricultural resilience amid climate risks and geopolitical tensions that could disrupt fuel and fertiliser supply chains.
To mitigate the risks, the Government intends to double the area under Pfumvudza/Intwasa from 500 000 hectares (ha) to one million ha, alongside measures to improve soil health, expand irrigation and ensure that crops match the conditions of different agro-ecological regions.
Under Pfumvudza/Intwasa, farmers use small, carefully prepared plots, planting basins, appropriate fertiliser application and mulching to conserve soil moisture and improve crop performance.
They are also encouraged to construct storm drains and infiltration pits to manage excess water and reduce soil erosion, recognising that climate variability can bring both prolonged dry spells and damaging downpours.
The programme is intended to help smallholder farmers maximise output from limited land while making better use of available rainfall and inputs.
Crops matched to climate
A central feature of the 2026/2027 strategy is the greater alignment of crop choices with local agro-ecological conditions, particularly as drier areas face heightened exposure to rainfall shortages. Maize will remain a major crop in wetter regions, while sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet are being promoted in areas where drought-tolerant grains offer a means of reducing climate-related production risks.
The summer cropping plan targets 1,6 million ha under conventional maize, with a further 75 000ha earmarked for special maize contracts.
For traditional grains, the targets include 450 000ha of sorghum, supplemented by 150 000ha under special contracts, 223 423ha of pearl millet and 60 000ha of finger millet.
The emphasis on traditional grains is particularly important in Natural Regions III, IV and V, where rainfall limitations make farmers more vulnerable to drought and crop failure.
Diversifying production could reduce dependence on maize and help sustain grain supplies when rainfall conditions are unfavourable.
However, the impact of the strategy will depend on farmers receiving seed, fertiliser and other essential inputs in time for planting, as well as access to extension services to guide crop selection and farming practices.
Irrigation and grain reserves
The Government is also accelerating irrigation development to reduce reliance on rainfall.
The 2026 plan targets an additional 20 000ha under irrigation, with the summer cropping strategy projecting that the expansion could generate an extra 200 000 tonnes of grain across the 2026/2027 summer and 2027 winter seasons.
“The focus is on accelerating irrigation development and promoting summer irrigated cereal production,” said Prof Jiri.
Irrigation provides a means of sustaining cereal production when rainfall is inadequate or poorly distributed, while allowing farmers to produce outside the main rainy season.
The strategy also places emphasis on rebuilding national grain reserves to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to possible production shortfalls.
The Government intends to build a dedicated Strategic Grain Reserve of 600 000 tonnes by October 2027 through purchases from summer and winter production.
The summer plan nevertheless identifies a potential worst-case maize deficit of about 1,56 million tonnes under its 2026/2027 scenario, highlighting the scale of the risk if mitigation measures fail to deliver the expected results.
The projection reinforces the need to increase domestic production, secure adequate grain stocks and prepare contingency measures to protect vulnerable households in the event of a poor harvest.
As the planting season approaches, the immediate challenge is to translate preparations into crops in the ground and, ultimately, a successful harvest.
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