Farmers turn to agroecology for hope

Stock Image: Showing crop diversity and ecological integration, agroecological principles

By Jonah B Moyo

Women and youth farmers from Matabeleland South Province are facing unprecedented challenges due to climate change, which has led to declining crop production and disrupted farming practices. The resulting poverty and food insecurity has left many farmers struggling to make ends meet, and welcoming innovative solutions like agroecology.

Climate change has caused disruption to farmers as it affects farming patterns and often lead to crop failures, ultimately affecting food security, farmer livelihoods, and the entire agricultural economy.

Women and youth in Mat South Province are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, which threatens their agricultural livelihoods and entrepreneurial aspirations. Unpredictable weather patterns and climate-related shocks undermine their ability to practice sustainable farming, hindering economic empowerment and community resilience.

In response to climate change, some farmers in the region are turning to agroecological farming as a resilient approach. This method offers hope for sustainable farming practices, enabling them to adapt to unpredictable weather conditions and build a more climate-resilient future.

Virginia Ncube from Ward 19, Gwanda South, highlights the challenges of farming in the face of climate change, stating that it has become a high-risk venture due to unpredictable weather patterns.

“Climate change has taken away our hope of harvesting bountiful maize or sorghum like we used to. This season, we didn’t produce any maize that could last us even two months. We only managed to grow a little,” she said.

She also added that climate change affects their food security as women.

“As women, we bear the responsibility for our families’ daily meals. But with the climate crisis, our households are struggling with hunger. We are forced to cook just one meal a day, stretching the little food we receive from the government to make ends meet.”

“The climate crisis has drastically changed our lifestyle, forcing us to adapt to a new normal of poverty and food insecurity. Meeting our basic needs has become a daily struggle, making food security the most pressing challenge for our community,” said Ncube.

To combat the impacts of climate change on Zimbabwe’s farming sector, innovative solutions like agroecology have been proffered and governments are being lobbied to adopt policies that encourage and enhance its practice. Some farmers have already started to adopt the strategy as they believe that it will improve their resilience to climate-related shocks, increase crop yields, and enhance food security.

Ms. Participate Moyo (23) from Mapisa, said adopting new farming methods is the way forward.

“We have relied on traditional farming methods, but they are no longer effective due to climate change. We need to be smart farmers and adapt to this new reality,” she said.

“As youths, we need income-generating opportunities, and I believe agroecological farming methods can help us adapt to climate change while boosting crop production. Techniques like drip irrigation and conservation tillage can lead to better yields, such as with cabbage farming, maize farming and other crops.”

“Growing cabbages through agroecological farming can provide us with a source of income as youth. Unlike traditional farming, this approach offers a smarter way forward. By adopting agroecological practices, we can address food security challenges and build a more sustainable future,” said Moyo.

She also added that

“The main challenge we are facing is securing capital for drilling water and purchasing a complete solar system to make our agroecological farming system a success. If we had initiatives that provided smart gardening solutions, we could help alleviate hunger issues as a nation,” said Moyo.

Ms. Felistous Dube, the Coordinator for People With Disabilities in Gwanda South Ward 16, also a person with disability said that:

“As people with disabilities, we prefer agroecological farming methods because they offer a more accessible and sustainable way to farm. Traditional methods are no longer viable due to the harsh climate. By adopting agroecological practices, we can establish our own farms, generate income, and become active contributors to the country’s agricultural sector,” she emphasized.

She also added that

“Being disabled doesn’t mean we are unable. Many of us have families to feed, and farming is a vital lifeline. We need smart farming methods that accommodate everyone, especially in these challenging times. Traditional farming is unsustainable for us, it’s labor-intensive and often unproductive. Agroecological methods, however, offer a better way forward, enabling us to produce food despite the harsh climate,” said Dube.

Matebeleland South Provincial Agronomist Mr Innocent Nyathi said climate change affects the farming systems in Matebeleland South Province.

“We thrived in farming in Mat-South before the climate change crisis struck. But once the impacts hit, our crops began to wither, livestock perished, and farmers were plunged into poverty. Climate change has drastically altered our livelihoods, turning what was once a thriving sector into a struggle,” he said.

He highlighted that as a region for them to address the pressing issue of climate change crisis they had to become smart farmers.

“Realizing that the climate crisis would not subside soon, we knew we had to adapt as farmers. That is why we adopted the Intwasa farming approach, which enables us to resiliently farm under harsh conditions. Now, every farmer in Mat-South is embracing agroecology to ensure they realize some yield from their farms, despite the challenges.”

“We advise livestock farmers to maintain smaller herds to prevent environmental degradation. By doing so, the grasing lands can retain their nutritional value. This is why we promote agroecology farming – to strike a balance between farming and environmental sustainability. Our goal is to ensure everyone can benefit from farming, even in challenging conditions,” said Nyathi.

“Some farmers in our region are adopting innovative approaches like drip irrigation and conservation tillage to sustainably produce crops despite the climate crisis. These methods enable them to conserve resources while increasing yields, helping them adapt to the changing climate,” he said.

He also highlighted that women play a pivotal role in implementing Intwasa farming practices.

“Women are at the forefront of Intwasa farming practices, diligently preparing their fields before the rainy season. By doing so, they are able to capitalise on even minimal rainfall, nurturing their crops to maturity and ultimately reaping a successful harvest.

“One challenge we face is that our youth have lost interest in farming due to the impacts of climate change. Despite new farming methods, they are more focused on quick cash rather than investing in agriculture. We would like to see them educated on the importance and potential of farming, so they can appreciate its value and contribute to the sector,” he said.