Government Urges Zimbabwe Farmers to Insure Crops Ahead of 2027 Season

By Siphosami Ndlovu

Mutare — As Zimbabwe begins planning for the 2027 agricultural season, the Government is urging farmers to prioritise agricultural insurance as part of efforts to strengthen resilience against climate-related risks and safeguard national food security.

The call was made by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, during a high-level strategic planning workshop for Government Programmes 1, 3 and 9 in Mutare, which is reviewing 2026 performance and shaping priorities for 2027.

Addressing participants, whom he described as “strategic thinkers” and the Ministry’s “inside thermostat”, Prof. Jiri challenged leaders to set the pace for institutional performance, shape organisational culture and translate policy into tangible outcomes that improve food security and livelihoods.

The workshop is focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation, guided by the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the Six-Pillar Drought Mitigation Plan and the Food Systems Transformation Strategy 2.

Strategic communication, institutional branding and gender inclusivity also feature prominently on the agenda.

At the centre of the resilience drive is agricultural insurance, which the Government views as an important tool for protecting farmers against increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and other production risks.

Prof. Jiri revealed that the Government had secured sovereign risk cover through the Sovereign Risk Fund to help cushion the country against climate-related shocks.

However, he cautioned that national-level protection alone was insufficient, urging individual farmers to take responsibility for insuring their crops.

He emphasised the need to complement Government-level protection with insurance at farm level.

He urged communal, A1, A2 and smallholder farmers across the country to insure their crops against potential losses caused by droughts, floods, pests and other hazards that threaten agricultural production.

The appeal comes amid growing efforts to strengthen climate resilience and protect agricultural output, with insurance offering farmers a potential financial safety net when adverse conditions undermine their investments and harvests.

The Ministry is encouraging farmers seeking information on registered agricultural insurance providers to contact their nearest Agricultural Extension Services (Agritex) officer for guidance and assistance.

The workshop, which runs until Friday, 23 October 2026, is expected to help shape the Ministry’s priorities and implementation strategies for the coming year.