By Sukoluhle Ndlovu
The Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development has trained 76 extension officers on El Niño preparedness and anticipatory climate action as Zimbabwe steps up efforts to protect food security ahead of the 2026/27 agricultural season.
The officers received training on El Niño, practical preparedness measures, agricultural insurance options and strategies for strengthening resilient markets.
The two-day training, held from September 7 to 8 at Esigodini Agricultural College, about 43 kilometres southeast of Bulawayo, was conducted under the Green Climate Fund–Climate Resilient Livelihoods (GCF-CRL) Project, a partnership between the Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The programme brought together 33 male and 43 female Agricultural Business Advisory Officers (ABAOs), equipping them with skills to help farmers prepare for potential climate shocks.
“The programme adopted a participatory approach aimed at strengthening preparedness and resilience among extension personnel, with a focus on cascading knowledge and preparedness messages to farmers,” the ministry said.
A key outcome of the training was the development of participatory crop and livestock preparedness plans to guide extension officers in supporting farmers before and during climate-related shocks.
The trained officers are expected to share the knowledge with other extension workers and farmers in their respective areas, helping to expand the reach of early warning and preparedness messages.
The training forms part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to strengthen its Early Warning, Early Action (EWEA) approach to managing climate-related risks during the coming agricultural season.
The ministry said strengthening the capacity of frontline extension officers was particularly important because climate impacts were likely to vary across different parts of the country.
“With different parts of the country likely to experience climate impacts differently, strengthening the capacity of frontline extension personnel is essential to ensuring that early warning information is translated into early action,” the ministry said.
The officers will help farmers make informed decisions, protect crops and livestock and minimise potential losses from climate shocks.
The initiative is expected to contribute to efforts to safeguard livelihoods and national food security by ensuring farmers receive timely early warnings and practical measures to prepare for adverse weather conditions.
