Zimbabwean farmers planted 126,394 hectares of winter wheat for the 2026 season, reaching 101% of the national target of 125,000 hectares and surpassing it by roughly 6,000 hectares. This is the largest wheat area ever planted in the country, and higher than the approximately 120,000 hectares planted in 2025.
A provincial breakdown as of the mid-June ministry update showed Mashonaland West leading with 30,112 hectares, followed by Mashonaland Central with 24,763 hectares and Mashonaland East with 24,601 hectares, with the remaining provinces contributing the balance. The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is targeting 325,000 tonnes from 65,000 hectares of its own and joint-venture operations.
Government confirmed the 2025 harvest at a record 640,195 tonnes, replacing earlier provisional estimates. With average yields of more than four tonnes per hectare, the 2026 crop is projected at around 662,500 tonnes, and the record area raises the prospect of exceeding that figure. The ministry now puts annual national requirement at approximately 605,000 tonnes.
The season was supported by strong water availability: national dam levels averaged above 93% following a good 2025/26 summer season, with most dams in Masvingo and Matabeleland South at full capacity. Around 80% of the crop is irrigated from dams and irrigation schemes, and contract farming financed roughly 73% of the target area.
Government approved an Incentive Producer Planning and Pre-Planning Price of US$524.56 per metric tonne for the 2026 winter wheat season in April 2026, intended to give farmers clarity on returns ahead of planting.
Harvesting runs from September to November, so the final 2026 output figure is expected around November. Analysts have noted that the 2026/27 summer season carries an El Nino risk, which could affect dam levels for the 2027 winter crop. See wheat growing and production statistics for the fuller picture, and the earlier report on the 2026 winter wheat season target.