THE Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has delivered 120,054.49 metric tonnes of summer cereals to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), boosting Zimbabwe’s strategic grain reserves as the country prepares for the possibility of an El Niño-induced drought during the 2026/27 agricultural season.
Official GMB figures show the total includes 27,836.280 metric tonnes delivered through Agro Dura, while 24,898.897 metric tonnes comprise sorghum, underscoring the growing importance of drought-tolerant crops in strengthening national food security.
ARDA expects grain deliveries, particularly sorghum, to continue increasing as harvesting, manual threshing and grain packaging activities are completed across farming areas.
The authority is also collaborating with the GMB to coordinate logistics and ensure grain from contracted farmers is transported efficiently to collection depots.
The rising grain deliveries come as Zimbabwe moves to reinforce its strategic grain reserves following forecasts of a possible El Niño event that could bring below-normal rainfall and drought conditions to Southern Africa.
With memories of the devastating 2023/24 El Niño drought still fresh, Government is prioritising food security by building adequate grain stocks to cushion the country against potential climate-related shocks.
The continued increase in deliveries of cereals, particularly drought-resilient crops such as sorghum, complements broader initiatives to promote climate-smart agriculture through irrigation development, improved farming practices and the adoption of drought-tolerant seed varieties.
Authorities believe these measures will strengthen Zimbabwe’s resilience to adverse weather conditions and help safeguard food supplies should another El Niño event materialise during the upcoming agricultural season.