Zimbabwe's ARDA delivers over 248,000 tonnes of grain as country prepares for El Niño drought

Zimbabwe's Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has delivered more than 248,000 tonnes of grain to the state-run Grain Marketing Board (GMB), as the country prepares for a drought linked to El Niño, according to a report published on 3 November 2026. The deliveries comprise 187,704 tonnes of summer cereals and 60,529.3 tonnes of winter wheat.

Building the grain reserve

The summer cereals came from the 2025/26 agricultural season. Of that amount, 31,293.46 tonnes went to immediate milling needs and to stabilising prices, the report says.

The wheat harvest is still under way. According to ARDA, most of the wheat already harvested remains on farms for bagging and grading, and some fields have not yet been harvested.

For the 2026/27 summer cropping season, ARDA aims to plant 100,000 hectares across its estates, joint venture growers, irrigation scheme business units and clustered smallholder farmers. Of this area, 60,000 hectares will be irrigated and 40,000 hectares will be sown with climate-smart varieties, meaning crops bred to cope better with heat and dry spells. The aim is to raise domestic cereal output and add to the country's Strategic Grain Reserve.

Minister warns of a drought year

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said Zimbabwe was almost certain to receive below-normal rainfall in the coming season. He noted that the Meteorological Services Department has classified it as a drought year. El Niño is a natural climate pattern linked to the warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean, which can disrupt rainfall in many regions.

Speaking at the 74th graduation ceremony at Gwebi College of Agriculture, Dr Masuka said warming of the central South Pacific Ocean was expected to exceed three degrees Celsius, pointing to a particularly strong event. "So now we are almost 100 percent certain that we will have below-normal rainfall for Zimbabwe," he said.

The minister said the GMB had bought 345,000 tonnes of various cereals, more than the 328,000 tonnes distributed during the severe 2024 drought. He said the government's wider preparations include stronger national and household grain reserves, climate-smart farming, livestock support and better early-warning systems.

Under the livestock plan, authorities intend to set up drought mitigation centres, each serving seven to eight villages, with permanent water sources, feeding facilities, livestock sales points and disease-control services. Dr Masuka also raised concern about maize losses after harvest, which he said can reach 30 percent, and urged households to cut food waste.

Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri advised farmers not to plant in panic or abandon their fields. He said the seasonal forecast should guide preparation, and that farmers should conserve soil moisture, diversify crops and consult extension officers. "Farmers need to be ready and make the most of every drop of rain," he said.

Why it matters for Tanzania

Tanzania, like Zimbabwe, depends heavily on rain-fed farming, so shifts in seasonal rainfall can quickly affect harvests, food prices and household incomes. Zimbabwe's approach of building grain stocks early, expanding irrigation and promoting climate-smart seed offers a practical example of preparing for a forecast dry season before it arrives.

The advice from Zimbabwean officials, to follow seasonal forecasts, protect soil moisture, reduce post-harvest losses and plan for livestock water and feed, is relevant to Tanzanian farmers and planners who regularly face both droughts and floods. It also shows how national weather forecasts can feed directly into food-security decisions.

Source: 263Chat via allAfrica