This research report is the first piece of research being conducted in Zimbabwe by the African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). It follows on from initial engagements with Zimbabwean civil society organisations (CSOs) regarding seed policy and is a preliminary scan for orientation and the identification of possible areas for further work, together with organisations in Zimbabwe. It forms part of a regional research programme which aims to engage directly with farmers, farmer associations, farmer support organisations, extension workers, scientists, donors and government officials, to explore the complex impacts on small-scale farming households of the introduction of Green Revolution technologies, as well as their socio-ecological contexts in the region.

The Zimbabwean situation is unique in the region primarily because of the fast track land reform that took place from 2000. This programme significantly altered the agrarian structure of the country but also contributed to input and output supply disruptions, with a sharp decline in the volume of production. External support was provided in the form of aid, including seed aid, and sponsorship of agricultural inputs to smallscale farming households. Throughout this period government also played a major role in subsidising Green Revolution input packages. These subsidy programmes performed an essential function in maintaining a commercial hybrid seed and synthetic fertiliser industry in Zimbabwe. The report is based on a combination of secondary desktop research and primary field research in the form of interviews with key informants and focus group discussions (FGDs) with farmers in nine sites, mainly in communal areas on the east side of the country.