Zimbabwe climate resilience and drought mitigation

Zimbabwe is implementing various climate resilience and drought mitigation strategies to address increasing weather variability and El Niño-induced risks.

In late August 2026, agricultural research institutions and international organizations, including the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and the World Food Programme, highlighted climate-smart technologies. These initiatives focus on biofortified foods, livestock technologies, and renewable energy solutions, such as solar-powered nutrition gardens and hospital energy systems, to strengthen service delivery during climate shocks.

By mid-September 2026, the Zimbabwean government activated a six-pillar drought resilience strategy for the 2026/27 agricultural season. This response follows forecasts of below-normal rainfall and high temperatures. The government’s plan includes updating its Summer Plan, prioritizing agricultural input distribution, and utilizing the Strategic Grain Reserve. Information Minister Dr. Zhemu Soda noted that these efforts must contend with both climate-induced production risks and rising costs for fuel and fertilizer driven by geopolitical tensions.