Climate-smart Agriculture of Zimbabwe
An integrated resilience-building initiative is working to protect vulnerable communities from climate-related and other shocks by giving people the additional skills needed to withstand those shocks through seed/fertilizer inputs and skill-building. The Zimbabwe Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, and the Department of Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services have partnered with WFP and FAO to implement a small-grains programme in Mangwe and Chiredzi Districts. The programme targets the most vulnerable people, who are also supported by the WFP Lean Season Assistance and Food Assistance for Assets programmes. The districts of Mangwe and Chiredzi benefit from these programmes owing to support from the India-UN Fund. The India-UN Fund project reaches 5,200 smallholder farmers and 40 agricultural extension officers.
Farmers learn agronomy methods using conservation agriculture principles, group development, collective marketing, post-harvest loss management, and gender issues. Women are empowered to address the drivers of food insecurity and trained to grow crops able to withstand drought. Investments in drought-tolerant varieties help to manage post-harvest losses.
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