Government Unveils Six-Point Strategy to Safeguard Food Security Amid Potential El Niño Threat

The Government has approved a comprehensive six-point Summer Cropping Plan designed to protect national food security, strengthen agricultural resilience and support farmers ahead of a forecast drier-than-normal 2026/27 farming season associated with a potential El Niño weather pattern.

The proactive strategy forms part of broader efforts to cushion the country against climate-related risks while ensuring sustained agricultural production and food availability despite growing weather uncertainties.

At the centre of the plan is the strengthening of the Strategic Grain Reserve, alongside the expansion of climate-smart agriculture, increased access to agricultural financing, enhanced livestock protection measures, strategic food and feed grain import arrangements where necessary, and improved coordination through robust early warning and monitoring systems.

Government is encouraging farmers across the country to adopt climate-smart farming practices tailored to their respective agro-ecological regions. These include planting drought-tolerant and region-specific crops, utilising early- and medium-maturing seed varieties, and expanding participation in the Pfumvudza/Intwasa conservation agriculture programme, which has become a key pillar of Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation agenda.

Recognising the importance of the livestock sector, the plan also prioritises animal health and productivity through intensified dipping and vaccination programmes, supplementary feeding initiatives and improved livestock nutrition to mitigate the effects of possible drought conditions.

Authorities emphasised that any strategic imports of food and feed grain under Statutory Instrument 87 would serve strictly as a contingency measure to complement domestic production and maintain national food reserves should the need arise.

The Government underscored that early preparedness, coordinated implementation and the widespread adoption of climate-smart interventions will be critical in safeguarding livelihoods, sustaining agricultural output and ensuring the nation remains food secure in the face of climatic uncertainty.

The six-point plan reflects Zimbabwe’s commitment to building a resilient agricultural sector capable of withstanding climate shocks while advancing national development and food security objectives.

By Witness A Phiri