Zimbabwe unveils drought resilience plan for 2026/27 season

The Zimbabwean government has activated a six-pillar drought resilience strategy to prepare for the 2026/27 agricultural season. This move follows forecasts from the Meteorological Services Department and the SADC region indicating a high likelihood of below-normal rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and higher temperatures driven by a developing El Niño phenomenon.

To safeguard food security, the government is updating its Summer Plan to include specific drought mitigation measures. This includes prioritizing the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers who have already completed land preparation to ensure efficient resource use. Additionally, a Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) programme and climate-smart agriculture initiatives are being rolled out nationwide.

Information Minister Dr. Zhemu Soda noted that the upcoming season faces dual challenges: climate-induced production risks and geopolitical tensions that have increased the costs of fuel and fertilizer. The current strategy aims to build on lessons from the 2024/25 season, which was described as the country’s worst drought since 1980.