Zimbabwe farmers plan drought-resistant grain expansion
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The SGR 200ha+ Club in Zimbabwe, with backing from the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), plans to expand drought-tolerant grain production in preparation for a predicted El Niño-induced drought.
The farmers’ organisation intends to cultivate around 60,000 hectares during the 2026/27 growing season, allocating 40,000 hectares to dryland sorghum and 20,000 hectares to irrigated maize. This shift in focus comes as the Zimbabwean government prepares for below-normal rainfall and higher temperatures.
The SGR 200ha+ Club, which represents nearly 500 farmers, also aims to contribute to rebuilding the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) by producing at least 150,000 tonnes of grain and cereals, 25 percent of the 600,000 tonnes needed. Success in achieving these goals depends on farmers gaining access to necessary resources like water, financing, inputs, infrastructure, and markets.
The club also intends to mentor smaller farmers through a “hub-and-spoke” model to broaden Zimbabwe’s agricultural capacity and strengthen connections between producers, processors, financial institutions, and the government.
