By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe government has drawn up a cloud-seeding program to commence in November as the country steps up preparations for a potentially drought-affected 2026-27 agricultural season, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Soda Zhemu said this on Tuesday during the post-Cabinet media briefing.
He said Cabinet had received a report on the status of the cloud-seeding plan for the 2026-27 rainfall season, presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Dr Anxious Masuka.
Dr Soda said in light of warnings from global climate agencies about an unprecedented Super El Niño, the government was intensifying measures to mitigate the potential impact, including cloud-seeding efforts aimed at increasing the chances of rainfall.
“The nation is informed that cloud seeding is set to commence on 1 November 2026. Three aircrafts based in Harare, Bulawayo and Masvingo will be used for the exercise. The Harare station will cover all the Mashonaland provinces, the Bulawayo base will cover all the Matabeleland provinces, while the Masvingo base will cover Midlands, Manicaland and Masvingo provinces,” he said.
He said the Government was continuing to mobilise resources to ensure the successful implementation of the program, which forms part of broader measures to prepare for the coming agricultural season.
Dr Soda also announced that Cabinet had approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Zimbabwe and the Republic of Indonesia on cooperation in agriculture.
“The Memorandum seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for cooperation in agriculture development, food diversification, crop and livestock production mechanisation, digital agriculture, trade and technology transfer, among other aspects. Through the bilateral cooperation, Zimbabwe will benefit on modernizing farming systems, enhancing livestock production, and opening of new international trade networks and synergies,” he said.
A similar MoU was signed between Zimbabwe and Tanzania and was aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas including agricultural productivity, food and nutrition security, value addition, agro-industrialisation, regional trade, technology transfer and institutional collaboration between the two countries.
Dr Soda said the agreement would provide a framework for deepening the longstanding bilateral cooperation between Zimbabwe and Tanzania, which dates back to the liberation struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence.
Meanwhile, Dr Soda said Zimbabwe intends to host the 2027 Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) following the withdrawal by Nigeria from arrangements to host the next edition next year.
The 2026 forum, which was considered and noted by Cabinet, was held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 1 to 4 September and attracted about 5 000 delegates. It was held under the theme: “Investing in Africa Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience” and focused on innovations, technologies, best practices, business models and policy mechanisms to accelerate the transformation of Africa’s food systems.
“The country intends to host a future edition of the Forum following Nigeria’s withdrawal from the 2027 hosting arrangements, and this will greatly enhance Zimbabwe’s international visibility and help to attract investment,” he said.
Dr Soda said the Kigali forum identified six priority areas critical to creating jobs, ensuring food security and generating wealth: investment and finance; food security and nutrition; climate resilience; enhancing global, regional and national collaboration for climate action; youth and digital innovation; and trade, marketing and value chains.
“These priority areas are critical for accelerated implementation of the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy (AFSRTS) and the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Declaration.
“The Forum reviewed progress, identified challenges, highlighted successes, and illuminated priorities to bridge the implementation gap for food systems transformation,” he said.
At the forum, Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Dr Anxious Masuka was the keynote speaker at a session titled “Turning El Nino intelligence into Climate-Resistant Food Systems for Africa.”
His presentation outlined Zimbabwe’s preparedness for a potential super El Niño, highlighting the climate-proofed Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, irrigation development, the Village Business Units concept and the six pillars of the Summer Plan, among other mitigation measures and strategies.
Dr Soda said Dr Masuka also participated in sessions covering “Beyond Production: Building Market Systems that Create Jobs at Scale”; the High-Level Ministerial Roundtable on “Transforming Food Systems in the Context of Global Conflict and the Energy Crisis”; “Digitalisation: Financing Generative AI for Agricultural Advisory”; the Council of the Wise; and the Presidential Summit.
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n the sidelines of the forum, Dr Masuka held bilateral meetings with former Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Deputy Director-General Maurizio Martina, and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Vice President Gerardine Mukeshimana.
New Ziana
