https://www.zimbabwefarming.com/news/ Zimbabwe farming news: grain, wheat, livestock, weather and farm policy. en https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/ministry-moves-to-safeguard-national-herd/ zf-2026-10-15-98405 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Livestock With a below-normal rainy season forecast, the Ministry of Agriculture says farmers should work out how long their water and feed will last before deciding how many animals to keep — but is not ordering anyone to destock. It also plans to vaccinate one million cattle against anthrax in 2027. https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/more-than-82-000-tonnes-of-wheat-harvested/ zf-2026-10-14-23200 Wed, 14 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Wheat Farmers have combined 14,648 of the 130,316 hectares planted, and Mashonaland West leads with 43,202 tonnes. Growers are being urged to speed up harvesting and use dryers while the weather is dry, with 293 combines deployed. https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/over-16-000-tractors-deployed-ahead-of-summer-cropping-season/ zf-2026-10-13-32546 Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Equipment Government counts about 16,000 functional tractors for the 2026/27 season and wants to double that by 2030. The Belarus mechanisation scheme offers three-year terms at 7.5% with no collateral, and has supplied more than 2,000 tractors so far. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/africa/zimbabwe-faces-major-grain-deficit-as-el-nino-looms/ zf-2026-10-13-93975 Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Grains Officials expect about 1.6 million tonnes of grain in 2026/27 — 42% less than last season — and a deficit of 266,881 to 541,881 tonnes. At least two million cattle are already at risk in parts of the country, and input support is going to 3.5 million farming families. https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/climate-proof-2026-27-season-says-president-launches-national-pfumvudza-programme/ zf-2026-10-10-17830 Sat, 10 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Policy The national Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme and summer input distribution were launched in Chivi, Masvingo. About 2.3 million plots covering around one million hectares are ready, and the strategic grain reserve holds about 290,000 tonnes. https://fews.net/southern-africa/zimbabwe/key-message-update/september-2026/print zf-2026-09-30-52052 Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Markets FEWS NET says retail maize prices in deficit-producing areas were roughly double those in surplus areas by August and are expected to keep rising. About 2.23 million cattle are estimated to be at risk, with a supplementary feed deficit of 233,000 tonnes. https://www.zimbabwefarming.com/news/el-nino-2026-what-it-means-for-farm-buyers/ zf-2026-09-25-91456 Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Weather Forecasters expect a hotter, drier 2026/27 season and the government expects grain output to fall to about 1.6 million tonnes. Here is what that means for livestock, grain and land deals over the next six months. https://www.newzimbabwe.com/zimbabwe-relaxes-grain-import-regulations-amid-drought-fears-lower-harvest-forecast/ zf-2026-09-18-68704 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Policy Cabinet has relaxed grain import rules so the private sector can bring in grain, reversing a squeeze on imports after the good 2026 harvest. Grain output is expected to fall to about 1.6 million tonnes in 2026/27, from 2.68 million. https://www.ecofinagency.com/news-agriculture/1709-58998-zimbabwe-s-93-9-million-maize-import-saving-is-already-at-risk-from-el-nino zf-2026-09-17-99846 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Grains Maize imports fell to US$183.6 million in January–July 2026, from US$277.5 million a year earlier. The USDA now projects Zimbabwe will need about 600,000 tonnes of maize imports in the 2026/27 marketing year. https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/cabinet-okays-6-pillar-drought-mitigation-plan/ zf-2026-09-17-10128 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Policy The plan covers strategic grain reserves (a 600,000-tonne target), climate-smart production, financing, livestock drought mitigation, imports and early warning, and aims to reach three million smallholder households. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/africa/zim-agric-show-attracts-higher-livestock-numbers-in-2026/ zf-2026-09-13-91257 Sun, 13 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Livestock The 2026 show took 634 livestock entries against 305 in 2025, as foot-and-mouth screening and movement permits at the gate restored breeders' confidence. Government also announced agro-processing zones in all ten provinces. https://cite.org.zw/zimbabwe-warned-of-dry-erratic-2026-27-rainfall-season/ zf-2026-09-09-55022 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Weather The regional climate outlook points to below-normal rain from October to December across most of the country, with frequent dry spells. Parts of Matabeleland South and Masvingo may see near-normal December rains. https://english.news.cn/africa/20260805/55faee345a7e4b1eb1cf711462730cc2/c.html zf-2026-08-05-97571 Wed, 05 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Grains Farmers harvested 2.68 million tonnes of maize from 1.96 million hectares, up from 2.2 million tonnes in 2025 — above the country's annual grain requirement of about 2.2 million tonnes. https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/farmers-plant-highest-ever-wheat-hectarage-as-record-target-is-within-reach/ zf-2026-06-21-17934 Sun, 21 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Wheat Farmers planted 126,394 hectares of winter wheat, the largest area on record, putting a 662,500-tonne harvest target within reach against national needs of under 400,000 tonnes. https://www.263chat.com/government-sets-2026-winter-wheat-producer-price/comment-page-1/ zf-2026-04-30-2406 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Wheat Government approved the 2026 winter wheat price as a pre-planting incentive, so growers could plan inputs before the cold-season planting under irrigation.