The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has intensified its contribution to national food security by implementing an expansive summer cereals production programme covering 100 000 hectares during the 2025/26 agricultural season.
The initiative includes 30 000 hectares of irrigated maize alongside 60 000 hectares dedicated to traditional grains, with output earmarked for both the Strategic Grain Reserve and the private market.
ARDA confirmed that planting of maize under irrigation was finalised in November, while traditional grain planting had reached 88 percent completion as of yesterday, signalling steady progress in the ongoing season.
The programme is being executed across a broad production base that includes ARDA estates, irrigation scheme business units, A1 and A2 joint-venture outgrowers, as well as clustered smallholder farmers spread across Zimbabwe’s eight agricultural provinces.
In a statement, ARDA said the production drive is anchored on the use of modern technology and structured partnerships to convert national food security policies into measurable results. The authority has also expanded the cultivation of traditional grains in line with Government’s agro-ecological approach, which encourages farmers to grow crops best suited to local climatic conditions.
To support participating farmers, ARDA is extending working capital through the provision of fertilisers, chemicals and climate-smart seed varieties for traditional grains. Irrigated maize producers are similarly receiving key inputs to sustain productivity.
ARDA said the integrated support model is expected to improve yields, strengthen resilience against climate variability and help ensure reliable grain supplies throughout the 2025/26 season.
