Zimbabwe targets 600,000 tonnes in grain reserves
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on 263Chat
Illustrative image · Mark Stebnicki · Pexels · Licence PexelsZimbabwe is targeting a strategic grain reserve of 600,000 tonnes by October 2027, compared with 365,688 tonnes on 9 November 2026. The government is also strengthening storage, irrigation and drought measures ahead of a strong El Niño event, according to minister Zhemu Soda.
Zimbabwe had 365,688 tonnes of grain in its strategic reserve as of 9 November 2026 and is targeting a stock of 600,000 tonnes by October 2027, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda said during a government press briefing in Harare. The authorities are strengthening storage capacity, irrigation and drought mitigation programmes amid the risk of a strong El Niño phenomenon.
The Agricultural Rural Development Agency (ARDA), which contributes to food security, has supplied more than 90% of the grain currently in the strategic reserve, according to Zhemu Soda. The presidential household grain collection has reached 8,678 tonnes, 19% more than during the same period last year.
The Pfumvudza/Intwasa agricultural programme has 14,971,621 plots established, or 93.3% of its target, while 914 drought mitigation centres have been installed across 1,527 rural constituencies. Irrigation now covers 308,969 hectares, including 119,068 hectares for maize for the 2026-2027 season, according to the minister.
The 2026 winter wheat harvest reached 676,473 tonnes after 130,316 hectares were planted and 129,860 hectares harvested, for an average yield of 5.2 tonnes per hectare. At the same time, 2,248,498 cattle, or 38.9% of the national herd of 5,750,439 head, are considered at risk in the event of drought, according to the Zimbabwean authorities. The government is also continuing presidential poultry and goat breeding programmes.
