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What is moving on the land — grain, wheat, livestock, the weather and the policy behind them. Every story dated and linked to its source.
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.
Zimbabwe FarmingCharts and sources →
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.
The Herald via Zimbabwe SituationRead ↗
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.
The Herald via Zimbabwe SituationRead ↗
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.
Zimbabwe SituationRead ↗
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.
Farmer's WeeklyRead ↗
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.
The HeraldRead ↗
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.
FEWS NETRead ↗
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.
NewZimbabweRead ↗
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.
Ecofin AgencyRead ↗
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.
Zimbabwe SituationRead ↗
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.
Farmer's WeeklyRead ↗
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.
CITERead ↗
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.
XinhuaRead ↗
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.
Zimbabwe SituationRead ↗
Government approved the 2026 winter wheat price as a pre-planting incentive, so growers could plan inputs before the cold-season planting under irrigation.
263ChatRead ↗
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