By Thabisani Dube
HARARE – Government has activated a six-pillar preparedness framework to mitigate the impact of the anticipated El Niño weather conditions during the 2026/27 agricultural season, with measures aimed at safeguarding food security, agricultural production and rural livelihoods.
Presenting the 2026 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review Statement in Parliament on Thursday, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said preparations for the 2026/27 farming season were already underway following Cabinet’s approval of the 2026/27 Summer Crops, Horticulture, Fisheries and Livestock Production Plan.
“In response to the expected El Niño conditions during the forthcoming season, Government has adopted a comprehensive preparedness framework aimed at safeguarding agricultural production, food security and rural livelihoods,” Ncube said.
He said the framework would be anchored on six strategic pillars designed to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate-induced shocks.
The pillars include enhancing Strategic Grain Reserves, accelerating climate-smart agricultural production, establishing an integrated financing architecture, implementing livestock drought mitigation measures, increasing grain imports, and strengthening coordination, early warning systems and capacity-building support.
“These are the six pillars that will support our response to the El Niño conditions that we expect to come through,” he said.
The minister said Government’s proactive planning was intended to minimise the impact of adverse weather conditions on crop production and livestock while ensuring adequate food supplies for the nation.
The measures form part of broader efforts to build climate resilience in the agricultural sector, which remains a key driver of Zimbabwe’s economy and a major source of livelihoods, particularly in rural communities.
The announcement comes as Government intensifies preparations for the next farming season amid forecasts of below-normal rainfall associated with El Niño, a weather phenomenon that has historically resulted in droughts and reduced agricultural output in southern Africa.
Government has in recent years expanded climate adaptation programmes, including irrigation development, climate-smart agriculture and strategic grain management, to cushion communities against increasingly frequent climate-related shocks.
