Valencia Ndhlovu
Matabeleland South province is expecting substantial yields from the 2025/26 cropping season, driven by dependable early rainfall that has brought cereal crops to the tasselling phase and maintained healthy livestock across Gwanda, Beitbridge, and Plumtree districts.
Provincial Agricultural and Rural Development Services specialists delivered this assessment in a January 12, 2026, update covered by Bulls Zimbabwe, observing that late-planted fields show robust vegetative growth while sugar bean sowing continues.
Farmers are now applying top-dressing fertilizers and weeding to maximize the favorable conditions. “The 2025/26 cropping season is encouragingly positive for Matabeleland South Province, with experts saying both crops and livestock are in good condition following significant rains received across the country,” according to the provincial outlook.
The optimistic forecast follows Zimbabwe’s record-breaking 2025 agricultural performance, which included tobacco production of 355 million kilograms that earned more than US$1.2 billion in export revenue and wheat output of 639,942 tonnes—the highest volume since 1966.
Provincial director Shupikai Sibanda has promoted crop diversification, noting that traditional grains such as sorghum and millet “suit the agro-ecology better” for the region.
Infrastructure investments support the positive trajectory. ARDA Antelope and Ngwizi estates operate irrigation systems covering 1,350 hectares of maize through National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) programs, while Gwanda Chief Mathe reports strong pollination following military-coordinated seed distribution efforts that addressed early supply challenges.
Despite the encouraging developments, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) cautions that vulnerable areas could face Crisis-level food insecurity (IPC Phase 3) extending into early 2026 if rainfall does not continue. Agriculture accounts for 12-16% of Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product and supports more than 60% of the population through employment, food production, and raw material supply for industry.
