The government says it will soon allow individuals and businesses to import food using their own foreign currency. The move is aimed at protecting national food supplies ahead of a forecast El Niño drought during the 2026/27 summer cropping season.
Officials hope the plan will ensure there is enough food available, prevent shortages, and help keep prices stable if below-normal rainfall hits local farm production.
Speaking to journalists from China, where he was attending the World Economic Forum’s 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube said the government would use a strategy similar to the one it rolled out during the severe 2024 drought.
“As you know, if you go back to our template of what happened in 2024, which also was a serious drought year — in fact, the worst drought we had had in 40 years — we said that the first order of business is to allow Zimbabwean entities and individuals who have their own foreign currency to be able to import food,” said Ncube.
“So, in other words, open up the borders. We will certainly be doing that, for sure. Then anyone with access to foreign currency will be able to import food.”
Ncube said the government will also increase support for climate-smart farming to reduce the impact of low rainfall on crops.
“We already have our climate-proofed agriculture model, Pfumvudza/Intwasa.
“We will again support that in our Budget because this is one way to make sure that those in the rural areas who practise Pfumvudza/Intwasa can realise some yield even under drier conditions, as long as they can water their fields. Of course, it’s small enough for you to water — at least that’s the science behind it.
“So, these are just some of the measures: opening up borders and supporting climate-proofing of agriculture.”
Zimbabwe experienced one of its worst droughts in decades during the 2023/24 farming season. The El Niño weather pattern brought long dry spells and poor rainfall across much of Southern Africa.
The drought sharply cut maize and traditional grain production. In response, the government declared a State of Disaster and rolled out several measures. These included importing strategic grain reserves, running food assistance programmes, and temporarily allowing private individuals and companies with foreign currency to import food.
Weather forecasts now show a higher chance of another Super El Niño during the coming summer cropping season. This has raised concerns about crop yields, food security and inflation.
More: The Sunday Mail
Pindula WhatsApp Channel
Facebook Page
Leave a Reply