Peter Matika, [email protected]
THE European union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have launched a ¢14 million programme aimed at helping smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe and other Southern African countries withstand worsening water shortages and climate pressures while increasing horticultural production and incomes.
The Agroecological Transitions for Horticulture in Arid Zones (ATHAZ) programme, launched in
Harare yesterday, will support farmers in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana to adopt water-efficient and sustainable farming practices, improve access to markets and develop more productive and profitable horticultural enterprises.
The four-year programme, running from 2026 to 2030, is expected to reach about 15 000 smallholder farming households across the three countries, representing approximately 75 000 people, with women and young people among its key target groups.
For Zimbabwe, the initiative comes as farmers increasingly grapple with water scarcity and unpredictable climatic conditions, which threaten crop production and livelihoods.
According to a statement from the EU, ATHAZ will build on the IFAD-supported Horticulture Enterprise Enhancement Project (HEEP), with farmers set to receive support in areas including efficient water use, resilient seed systems, integrated pest management and sustainable production.
The programme will also seek to strengthen farmers’ links to markets and create opportunities for value addition, potentially allowing small-scale producers to move beyond simply producing crops to earning more from processing and improved market access.
IFAD country director for Zimbabwe Mr Francesco Rispoli said the programme would build on investments already being made in irrigation and market access.
“ATHAZ builds on IFAD’s ongoing investments in irrigation and market access in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mr Rispoli said the programme would bring farmers, researchers and extension services together to test and scale up practical solutions that could improve productivity while reducing pressure on increasingly scarce water resources.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen the ability of farmers to access better-paying markets for their produce.
EU chargé d’affaires a.i. to Zimbabwe Ms Francesca Fabbri said water availability remains critical to the survival and success of farmers, particularly as dry seasons became increasingly difficult to predict.
“Every farmer in Zimbabwe knows what a dry season costs. Water can be the difference between a good harvest and a lost one, and it is getting harder to count on,” she said.
Ms Fabbri said ATHAZ would combine farmers’ existing knowledge with research, improved market access and investment to enable them to produce more with less water.
She said the programme would particularly support women and young people while creating opportunities for farmers to access buyers willing to pay fair prices for their produce.
The EU said its support was part of a broader partnership with Zimbabwe aimed at developing a more climate-resilient, competitive and inclusive agricultural sector.
The partnership links sustainable land and water management with climate-smart production, processing, value addition and access to higher-value markets, including the European market.
The EU is also increasing investment in sustainable agricultural value chains, particularly horticulture and drought-resilient and high-value crops, while promoting access to finance, technology, equipment and expertise.
Across Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana, ATHAZ will establish nine innovation hubs and strengthen 30 horticultural value chains.
The programme will be implemented by IFAD in partnership with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and
Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT), working alongside national research and extension systems, farmer organisations, governments and private-sector players.
The innovation hubs are expected to provide platforms for farmers and researchers to test practical agricultural solutions and share successful approaches that can subsequently be adopted on a wider scale.
ATHAZ is ultimately seeking to demonstrate that climate-resilient horticulture can provide a viable route towards stronger rural livelihoods and more sustainable food systems in Southern Africa by bringing together farmers’ knowledge, scientific research, investment and markets.
The €14 million initiative is funded by the European union under the DeSIRA+ programme and is being coordinated by IFAD, with technical support from icipe, FiBL and BvAT.
