Zimbabwe farmers thrive through climate-smart anticipatory action project

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe - In the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, Zimbabwean farmers are finding a lifeline through an innovative anticipatory action spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), in close collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe.

The EU-ECHO funded “Building capacity in Southern Africa to enable effective disaster risk management through regional systems for inter-agency anticipatory action using a multi-hazard, multi-sectoral approach” project, is empowering Zimbabwean farmers to withstand the escalating challenges posed by climate change through proactive, anticipatory action (AA). The initiative, supporting the government's efforts, focuses on providing farmers with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to adapt to erratic weather patterns and build long-term resilience. 

The project’s core strategy revolves around anticipatory action – acting on the basis of a forecast before a crisis hits. This involves providing farmers with timely and accurate weather forecasts, training on climate-smart agricultural practices, and access to resources that enable them to mitigate the impact of droughts and other climate-related shocks. 

One of the beneficiaries a female farmer from Matobo, Fidelia Ngwenya emphasized the transformative impact of the training and weather alerts she received from the collaborative relationship between FAO and the Zimbabwean government. “Before, I would be guessing and often planting too late, leading to crop failure. The training I received, and the weather alerts helped me plant my crops on time,” she explained. “As a result, I managed to have a good harvest.

Choosing the right crops for the right region

The project also provides farmers with guidance on selecting suitable crops for their specific agroecological zones. The impact of this support is evident in the stories of farmers like Fidelia Ngwenya.
Fidelia Ngwenya emphasized the importance of tailored information on appropriate crop selection for her specific agroecological zone. “Knowing which crops thrive best in our area has been critical in improving productivity,” she added. 

Matobo is one of the driest regions in Zimbabwe, with low and unreliable rainfall. The area experiences aridity, with rainfall averaging between 250 mm and 500 mm per year. This is a semi-arid region, part of Zimbabwe’s agro-ecological regions 4 and 5, where rainfall is exceptionally low, and temperatures are high.

Saving livestock with innovative feed formulation

The project's reach extends beyond crop production, with a significant focus on livestock management. In the drought-prone region of Beitbridge, a male farmer credits the FAO-Government supported training with enabling him to protect his livestock from starvation. He shared how he learned to formulate nutritious animal feed using locally available resources. "Thanks to the support from the FAO project, I learned how to save my livestock through feed formulation," Trevor Ncube said proudly. "Now I'm growing velvet beans and lablab and mixing them with sorghum stover to create a nutritious and readily available feed source.” 

Trevor Ncube’s innovative approach proved crucial during a recent drought where 435 cattle died in Beitbridge due to starvation. "During the last season I harvested 200 bales of lab lab from half a hectare, and 15 bags of sorghum from a hectare. My family did not go hungry during last year’s drought that affected millions of Zimbabweans, and all my forty cattle survived through the lean season. I am now an inspiration to others and sharing the knowledge I got from the government and FAO to end hunger in my community.” 

Heeding early warnings and maximizing yields

Trevor Ncube also emphasized the role of anticipatory messaging provided by the government’s Meteorological Services Department (MSD) through a local community radio station, Lotsha FM. "I used anticipatory messages from the government through a local community radio station to determine when to plant," he explains. "This resulted in me being one of the few farmers that harvested during the 2023/24 drought." Furthermore, Trevor Ncube has embraced other agricultural innovations, such as water harvesting and improved soil management techniques, to further enhance his harvests. 

“The farmer stories serve as a powerful example of how targeted interventions, coupled with local knowledge and innovation, can empower vulnerable communities to adapt to the challenges of climate change and build a more sustainable future,” said Assistant FAO Representative-Programmes, Tendai Munyokoveri, highlighting the critical importance of investing in anticipatory action and empowering farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to thrive.

UN Resident Coordinator impressed by local innovations

The success stories emerging from the project garnered the attention of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) in Zimbabwe, Edward Kallon, during a side event hosted by FAO during the 65th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF). Edward Kallon expressed his admiration for the ingenuity and adaptability demonstrated by the project and emphasized that for sustainability of AA interventions there must be government led.

"I am incredibly impressed by the innovations I have seen here," he stated. "However, for these to be sustainable, AA interventions must be owned and led by the government, and the government must take lead in terms of financing and resourcing for AA." 

The Director, Civil Protection Farai Hokonya highlighted that the government’s vision was to lead AA and had already begun that process. “We are incorporating AA into the Disaster Risk Management Bill, mainstreaming of AA in the civil protection structures and investing on forecast-based financing for AA programs and activities.” These interventions will lead to significant improvements in agricultural productivity and resilience in Zimbabwe.