Zimbabwe Moves to Build 450,000-Tonne Strategic Grain Reserve Amid Super El Niño Threat

Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to strengthen national food security by targeting a 450,000-metric-tonne Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) ahead of a forecast Super El Niño weather phenomenon that could threaten agricultural production across the region.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, , said Government is implementing a comprehensive grain stockpiling strategy designed to cushion vulnerable communities against potential food shortages arising from adverse climatic conditions.

Speaking on the country’s preparedness measures, Professor Jiri said the targeted reserve will consist of 150,000 metric tonnes already ring-fenced for the Strategic Grain Reserve, 150,000 metric tonnes expected from this year’s winter harvest and an additional 150,000 metric tonnes from the 2027 winter production season.

He said the reserve will serve as a critical national buffer, ensuring food availability and stability should the anticipated weather disruptions negatively affect crop yields and household food supplies.

Beyond grain storage, Government has mobilised millers to meet national milling requirements while also ensuring adequate supplies of stock feed to protect the livestock sector from possible climate-induced challenges.

Professor Jiri said authorities are strengthening agroecological planning frameworks and promoting the production of traditional grains, which are generally more resilient to drought and changing weather patterns. He added that extension services continue to guide farmers on the most suitable crops for specific ecological regions as part of broader efforts to build climate-smart and sustainable agricultural systems.

The Permanent Secretary also called on media organisations, civil society groups, the private sector and community leaders to play a more active role in disseminating early warning information, stressing that timely access to climate and weather forecasts is essential for informed decision-making by farmers and rural communities.

The measures form part of Zimbabwe’s broader strategy to enhance resilience against climate shocks, safeguard food security and protect livelihoods in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

By Witness A Phiri