Agriculture Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has secured three aircraft for cloud seeding to enhance rainfall activity and boost agricultural production during the 2026/27 summer cropping season.
This comes as Zimbabwe braces for the effects of a forecast Super El Niño, which is expected to bring elevated temperatures and below-normal rainfall in the country.
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that boosts a cloud’s ability to produce rain or snow by releasing tiny particles into the atmosphere.
The move is part of the Government’s measures to enhance rainfall amid growing concerns over water availability during the coming cropping season.
Zimbabwe has previously deployed aircraft for cloud seeding, particularly during seasons characterised by below-normal rainfall and prolonged dry spells.
The programme relies on the availability of suitable rain-bearing clouds, meaning cloud seeding cannot create rain where there are no clouds or sufficient atmospheric moisture.
The Government has previously used aircraft that were usually based in Harare and Bulawayo to cover different parts of the country.
Speaking on Government’s preparedness measures, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said the latest seasonal weather forecast had prompted Government to activate a six-pillar response plan aimed at mitigating the anticipated effects of the adverse weather conditions.
“Following the release of the seasonal weather forecast indicating that the country will receive below-normal rainfall associated with elevated temperatures, Government has activated a six-pillar response plan,” Dr Masuka said.
The plan includes an enhanced strategic grain reserve, climate-smart agriculture, a new financing architecture, a livestock response, enhanced imports and coordination, capacity building and early warning systems.
“It is in this context that, under pillar two that looks at climate-smart production, we are looking at enhancement and augmentation of rainfall,” he said.
Dr Masuka said an inter-ministerial committee established by Cabinet had already met to strengthen preparations for the coming season.
“We are looking at availability of aircraft, availability of our players and availability of the technical people in the locations of the aircraft and also looking at the research, development and tracking of the success of cloud seeding so that it can inform better planning into the future,” he said.
“We are going to be using largely the conventional method of aircraft and we now have three aircraft which will be stationed in Masvingo, in Bulawayo and in Harare. We are also looking at drones to be able to enhance rainfall.”
The Government is also planning to use fixed stations during the season to strengthen monitoring, while the Zimbabwe National Meteorological Services Department has been tasked with supporting the research and development component of the programme.
“We are also looking at fixed stations through the season, and we have requested ZINSA to look at the Research and Development aspects,” the minister said.
The Government’s approach comes as Zimbabwe seeks to strengthen its preparedness for possible dry spells and high temperatures that could affect crop and livestock production.
The MSD has previously stressed that cloud seeding requires favourable atmospheric conditions, particularly clouds capable of producing rainfall.
Its seasonal outlook recommendations have also included irrigation, water harvesting and conservation, as well as using shorter-term weather forecasts to guide agricultural activities.
The expanded cloud-seeding programme is therefore expected to complement, rather than replace, other measures being implemented under the Government’s broader response plan for the 2026/27 agricultural season.
Source: Government intensifies drought preparedness with cloud seeding – herald
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