The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said insufficient soil moisture, caused by the 2024 El Nino-induced drought and weak December rainfall, has delayed crop planting in Zimbabwe.
In a statement, the FAO also noted that while the total rainfall for November, which usually signals the start of the planting season, was near normal across most of the country, it was unevenly distributed over time. FAO said:
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Planting of the summer 2025 cereal crops is underway and is expected to conclude in January. Remote sensing analysis indicates that the total rainfall amount for November, which typically marks the start of the planting season, was near normal across most of the country, but unevenly distributed over time.
However, a severe drought earlier in the year, which sharply reduced the 2024 cereal harvest, has kept soil moisture levels still unusually low, particularly in the northeastern provinces, which are key agricultural production zones.
These dry soil conditions may hinder and delay planting operations, especially with rainfall amounts in early December below average and weather forecasts pointing to a high probability of below-average rainfall amounts and higher-than-average temperatures for the rest of the month.
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However, the FAO said rainfall patterns are likely to return to average beginning in 2025. This offers a glimmer of hope for farmers, who have been grappling with the challenges posed by the El Nino-induced drought and erratic rainfall. It said:
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From January onwards, weather forecasts suggest a likely return to average rainfall amounts. The government continues to support access to agricultural inputs for the 2024/25 cropping season, with an estimated 3.5 million households targeted to receive inputs through a subsidy programme.
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Zimbabwe is facing delays in planting crops due to not enough soil moisture from a drought and weak December rainfall. The FAO says while November's rainfall was normal, it was not evenly spread out. The drought earlier in the year also affected soil moisture levels. This may make planting harder. But, the FAO predicts average rainfall in 2025. Farmers are getting support and hope for a better crop season. The government is assisting with agricultural inputs for millions of households. This news gives hope for a better farming season next year.

El Niño Drought And Weak December Rainfall Delays Crop Planting In Zimbabwe

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MLAFWRD) have embarked on a process to review the Zimbabwe food security situation and outlook to respond to the El Nino induced drought.
The MLAFWRD and FAO held an urgent high-level meeting in Harare Co-chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri and Dr. Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Representative to Zimbabwe.
The objective was to collaboratively assess the current drought situation while exploring how FAO programmes can build resilience for the country and plan for interventions in consultation and with support from the Agriculture Ministry.
Considering that 70 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for food and income, urgent short and long-term interventions play a key role in averting severe food insecurity and damage to livelihoods. Said Prof Jiri:
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These engagements are important to strengthen collaboration between FAO and the Government of Zimbabwe in responding to the effects of the El Nino induced drought. We agreed on key action plans to respond and address the short and long-term effects of the El Nino.
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During the high-level meeting, both FAO and the MLAFWRD presented and reflected on the current status of the food security situation and outlook to identify synergies and areas of collaboration to assess and mitigate the risk of agricultural livelihood degradation due to El Nino. 
Leveraging on FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022 – 2031 and its work in emergencies, the meeting came at an opportune time when FAO has already embarked on a regional assessment of the impacts of El Nino in Southern Africa and Zimbabwe’s assessment will be finalized in May 2024.
With the 2022 – 2026 Country Programming Framework (CPF) approaching its mid-term, FAO presented the current milestones in the implementation of the CPF while also highlighting the challenges encountered including the funding gaps and resource mobilization efforts.
During the meeting, FAO also presented its work on global corporate and flagship initiatives including the Hand in Hand Initiative (HiHi), the Digital Villages Initiative (DVI) and the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP).
HiHi is one of the initiatives which Zimbabwe can take advantage of in responding to El Nino. For the past two years, the HiHi in Zimbabwe has set precedence in terms of public, private and development financing for investment facilitation at national, regional and international fora.
The OCOP is a country-led and country-driven initiative that focuses on Special Agricultural Products (SAPs) with Zimbabwe already focusing on the traditional soya bean value chain. The DVI seeks to transform rural economies for the better through digitalization.
Dr Patrice Talla said that the consultative and multisectoral involvement of key stakeholders in this process is critical. Said Talla:
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Today, we had the opportunity to elaborate more on FAO work to systematically plan and receive guidance from the Government of Zimbabwe through the Agriculture Ministry on how to harmonize and optimize delivery and impact in responding to the effects of El Nino.
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The meeting agreed on intensifying the promotion of crop diversification with the Government emphasizing that it is now implementing policy decisions anchored on the use and adoption of traditional grains which are resistant to many crop diseases and pests and can survive adverse climatic conditions such as this El Nino.
FAO committed to supporting the Government in scaling up and linking irrigation and mechanization for small-scale farmers with a strategic thrust on private sector inclusion.
The MLAFWRD and FAO agreed on an action plan for short and long-term interventions to address the challenges being encountered in the agriculture sector including through open data, early warning and anticipatory actions as well as traditional response action. The action plan will be spearheaded by a team of technical experts from FAO and the MLAFWRD.
This comes as Southern Africa is already battling with the effects of the El Nino-induced drought phenomenon and Zimbabwe has declared the 2023-2024 summer cropping season a national disaster following the El Nino-induced drought.
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Zimbabwe, FAO Review Food Security Situation In Response To El Nino Induced Drought

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations says it is ready to assist farmers in Matabeleland South Province in managing rangeland degradation.
Rangeland degradation is a decrease in plant species diversity, plant height, vegetation cover and plant productivity.
FAO Zimbabwe International resilience specialist Alexander Carr said rangeland productivity has declined, leading to reduced carrying capacity for livestock.
He urged the Government to ensure that policies and regulations are in place to support rangeland conservation while FAO equips farmers with the skills and knowledge to achieve this.
Carr was speaking during a meeting with some of the farmers in Bulawayo on Friday last week. He said:
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Rangelands play a crucial role in supporting the livelihoods of pastoral communities, providing grazing land for livestock and a source of income from meat and dairy production hence they should be of utmost priority be preserved.
Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns have altered the distribution and abundance of plant and animal species, leading to changes in ecosystem dynamics.
As a result, rangeland productivity has declined, leading to reduced carrying capacity for livestock and lower yields of meat and dairy products.
This may include practices such as rotational grazing, improved water management as well as the use of alternative sources of livelihoods to reduce pressure on rangeland resources.
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Speaking at the same event, the permanent secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South, Latiso Dhlamini-Maseko said:
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By restoring degraded rangelands, we can increase their productivity and resilience, improve the livelihoods of pastoral communities, safeguard biodiversity and reduce the risk of land degradation and desertification.
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Matabeleland South Province receives low seasonal rainfall which makes the rangeland highly susceptible to degradation.
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United Nations' FAO Pledges To Assist Farmers In Matabeleland South

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) says climate change has affected Lake Kariba which has resulted in ever-decreasing water levels.
Speaking at the launch of the Lake Kariba Inshore Fisheries Management Plan in Kariba, sub-regional coordinator for Southern Africa, Patrice Talla, said;
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Climate change has affected Lake Kariba and its environs as envisaged by fluctuating lake water levels that have affected electricity availability.
Fisheries have also been affected by the changes. Research conducted in Lake Kariba has shown that increasing temperatures affect fisheries productivity and the fluctuating lake water levels affect the actual fishing activities by fishery-dependent communities.
Although we face these and many other challenges, this launch event meeting has presented an opportunity for key fisheries stakeholders to meet.
Enhancing the sustainability of small-scale fisheries of Lake Kariba is necessary for improving fisheries management and also improving the availability of fish for food security and economic growth.
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Lake Kariba provides water for electricity generation to both Zimbabwe and Zambia.
There are two power stations drawing water from the Lake, that is, Kariba South Hydroelectric Power Station with an installed capacity of 1 050MW and Kariba North Hydroelectric Power Station with an installed capacity of 1 080MW.
According to the UN, climate change is caused by the following:
<ul>
<li>Generating electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels causes a large chunk of global emissions.</li>
<li>Manufacturing and industry which produce emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels to produce energy for making things like cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothes, and other goods.</li>
<li>Cutting down forests to create farms or pastures</li>
<li>Transportation is a major contributor of greenhouse gases, especially carbon-dioxide emissions.</li>
<li>Producing food causes emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases in various ways.</li>
<li>Powering buildings, both residential and commercial buildings which consume over half of all electricity.</li>
<li>Excessive consumption</li>
</ul>
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