The challenges facing small holder farmers in Zimbabwe are multi-faceted; they include low smallholder agricultural productivity caused by, among other things, reliance on rain-fed systems, poor input/output markets, low soil fertility, lack of draught power, lack of smallholder oriented credit support systems and weak agricultural extension service delivery systems. The...

Keeping its tradition of exploring major emerging issues, Nature & Faune has chosen to dedicate this edition to looking at the implications of this rapid urbanization and its implications for urban food and nutrition security, focusing on the specific roles of sustainable management and utilization of natural resources in Africa‘s...

The study was conducted in 2011 at Hamamavhaire and Mhende irrigation schemes in Chirumanzu district in Zimbabwe to determine the typology of the farmers using different irrigation technologies. A structured household survey was carried out on a sample of 79 respondents drawn from farmers using the sprinkler (n=32), flood (n=39)...

Growing water-thirsty crops like maize in drought-prone areas is obviously risky. Yet many of Zimbabwe's smallholder farmers are doing precisely that - and with it, increasing their chances of poor yields, lost income and hunger. Working alongside Zimbabwe's Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development, FAO, through its Technical Cooperation...

This publication contains of information on technologies and innovation for addressing climate change and variability in Eastern and Central Africa. They were compiled from national agricultural research system (NARS) and International research centers working in the ASARECA region. The information was submitted and discussed at a regional conference on “Climate...

Soil degradation is a major threat to Southern Africa's agricultural production. Crops show generally weak responses to mineral fertilizers on degraded soils. A three-year study was conducted between 2009 and 2012 on smallholder farms in eastern Zimbabwe to explore entry points for rehabilitating degraded croplands using principles of integrated soil...

One way that family farmers improve their resilience to both climatic and economic shocks is to diversify what is produced. More and different crops and livestock, particularly local varieties and breeds are being promoted. Two other options stand out too – bees and trees. These have the added advantages of...

This Report presents the results of the 2011-2012 Agriculture and Livestock Survey (ALS) in A1 Farms conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency.

In a dry, thorny, remote village about 200 km south of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, a group of women have transformed an abandoned piece of land into a flourishing community garden, growing enough fresh, nutritious vegetables to supply nearby towns and villages, while boosting the health and income of their own community.

This Report presents the results of the 2011-2012 Agriculture and Livestock Survey (ALS) in A2 Farms conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency.    

This Report presents the results of the 2011-2012 Agriculture and Livestock Survey (ALS) in communal lands conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency

This Report presents the results of the 2011-2012 Agriculture and Livestock Survey (ALS) in Small Scale Commercial farms (SSCF) conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency.

During the 2012/2013 agricultural season, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) implemented a market-based agriculture input assistance programme in Zimbabwe. FAO together with key partners aimed at reducing poverty and food insecurity in Zimbabwe, by helping to increase the productivity and income of small-scale farmers as...

The study assessed the nature of marketing chain of fruits and vegetables in Murehwa and Mutoko Districts in Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques were used. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, direct observations and document reviews. A structured household...

The European Union (EU), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Zimbabwe have launched a major programme to assist poor smallholder farmers to boost production, productivity and engage in commercial agriculture through integrated farming approaches.  The 4-year US$19 million (13.78 Million Euro) programme...

The future of food security in Africa lies in the hands of African farmers, yet not enough is known about them; data is scarce and their stories are only half told. This report puts smallholder farmers at the center of the dialog about farming and food security in Africa. Too...

This paper outlines the establishment of a broad innovation platform on to which more players were invited in efforts to meet the demands of participating farmers. We share this experience to encourage others to undertake impact-oriented programs. Scientific papers emanating from this work have been published in a wide range...

In 2000, twelve smallholder farming families, which had gathered extensive experience on agroecological methods by working closely with a grassroots organization called the Association of Zimbabwe Traditional Environmental Conservationists (AZTREC), organized themselves into a group. They initiated a project to set up a school for farmer-to-farmer training in Zimbabwe which...

Africa’s rising population growth and the continuous degradation of agricultural lands have raised questions about the suitability of the current agricultural system. There is a growing need to investigate different crop production systems that prevent soil degradation while increasing productivity. Conservation agriculture (CA) offers a promising solution. Conservation agriculture is...

Conservation agriculture (CA) is promoted as a cropping system that has potential to alleviate poor crop yields in smallholder farming while protecting the environment. It involves maintenance of permanent soil cover, diverse crop rotations and/or interactions; and minimum soil disturbance. CA is associated with crop residue management challenges due to...