Season Outlook 2026/27
El Niño Warning: Plan for a Dry, Hot Season
Seasonal outlooks point to El Niño conditions for the 2026/27 summer season. El Niño years typically bring below-normal, erratic rainfall, longer dry spells and higher temperatures to much of Zimbabwe. That changes how weeds, pests and diseases behave, and how well your crop protection products work.
- Temperatures
- Above normal
- Rainfall
- Below normal, erratic
- Dry spells
- Longer & more frequent
What El Niño means for crop protection
Five Risks to Plan For
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01 High risk
Pre-emergence herbicides may not activate
Products such as Atrazine and S-Metolachlor need rain or irrigation to move into the weed germination zone. In dry starts, plan a post-emergence back-up such as Nicosulfuron or Termenic.
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02 High risk
Fall armyworm and stalk borer surge
Hot, dry conditions favour fall armyworm. Scout maize at least twice a week from emergence and spray at first sign of fresh window-paning, early morning or late afternoon.
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03 High risk
Aphids, thrips, whitefly and red spider mite
Sucking pests and mites build up quickly on moisture-stressed crops, especially tomatoes, cotton and soya. Rotate chemical groups to slow resistance.
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04 Medium risk
Weeds compete for every millimetre
Weeds steal scarce soil moisture. Keep maize weed-free for the first six weeks after emergence and control nutsedge before it establishes.
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05 Medium risk
Disease shifts to irrigated crops
Overall fungal pressure is lower in dry seasons, but irrigated tomatoes, potatoes and wheat still face blight, mildew and rust. Powdery mildew favours warm, dry weather.
Before & during the season
Farmer Checklist
- Plant only after effective rains (around 25 mm) and stagger planting dates to spread risk.
- Choose drought-tolerant, shorter-season varieties where possible.
- Spray early morning or late afternoon. Avoid spraying when temperatures exceed 30°C or crops are visibly wilting.
- Use clean water and the right water volume per hectare. Check pH and hardness before mixing.
- Keep fields weed-free early to conserve soil moisture, and leave crop residue as mulch.
- Scout twice a week and keep simple records of pests, products and rates.
- Budget and stock key products early. Demand spikes when outbreaks hit.
Season calendar
Spray Timeline
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Oct – Nov
Land prep, pre-plant burndown and pre-emergence herbicides (if rain or irrigation is available).
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Nov – Dec
Plant on effective rains. Begin twice-weekly fall armyworm and cutworm scouting.
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Dec – Jan
Post-emergence weed control, fall armyworm control and sucking pest monitoring during dry spells.
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Jan – Feb
Mite and aphid peaks in hot spells. Protect irrigated crops against blight and mildew.
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Mar – Apr
Late-season pest checks, harvest planning and winter wheat preparation.
Get seasonal alerts as they happen
Subscribe below for spray advisories, or join the Farmer App waitlist for district-level pest and weather alerts.
General guidance only. Check the latest seasonal forecast from the Meteorological Services Department and always follow product labels.