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Tariro Stacey Gatsi
NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, ActionAid Zimbabwe recently backed Government’s calls for farmers to embrace agroecology and increase yields while reducing environmental impacts, saying farmers should replace industrial agriculture with climate-resilient farming practices.
Agroecology is farming that involves food production using locally available resources in a sustainable way.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Professor Obert Jiri highlighted the need to embrace agroecology, as Government recognises its relevancy because it is a maintainable farming method that makes the best use of natural resources.
In an X (formerly twitter) post, Prof Jiri said: “The short, sharp El-Nino affected season has shown the importance of agroecological tailoring, correct crop sustainability selection and matching, and climate proofing through Pfumvudza/Intwasa. This improves production and productivity.”
ActionAid country director Mr Joy Mabenge concurred saying there was need to transition from unsustainable methods and embrace agroecology to mitigate the devastating impacts of climate change.
“The promotion of climate-resilient farming practices, such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa by the Government, closely aligns with ActionAid’s advocacy for agroecology,” said Mr Mabenge.
Agroecology is becoming the most efficient, reliable, and cheaper way of practising sustainable agriculture in Zimbabwe.
“By adopting agroecological approaches, we can enhance soil fertility, increase yields and mitigate climate change impacts while empowering smallholder farmers and ensuring food security,” he added.
Mr Mabenge stressed the need for financial institutions to drift from industrial agriculture and invest in agroecology.
“Industrial agriculture ranks as the second-largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions due to its heavy reliance on environmentally damaging practices, such as extensive machinery and chemical usage, to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population,” he added.
He highlighted that industrial agriculture and its close ties to fossil fuel production offered no advantages over agroecology. Despite the mounting evidence of their detrimental effects on the climate, these industries continue to persist and expand. While the impact of burning fossil fuels is widely acknowledged, the role of industrialised agriculture in the climate crisis often receives less attention.
“These practices undermine smallholder farmers and their agroecological farming systems, which offer sustainable solutions for feeding the world while mitigating climate change,” added Mr Mabenge.
On the other hand, agroecology is also empowering rural farmers to become resilient towards climate shocks and improve food sufficiency at household level.
Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) project manager, Mr Simba Guzha, said they were advocating for the establishment of an agroecology policy at national level adding that his organisation was seeking to empower more female smallholder farmers.
“Smallholder farmers globally produce 80 percent of the food and we are saying agroecology is the best practice to boost crop yields given the threat of climate change that we are facing. We are training farmers on issues of diversity, seed banking, growing of small grains, intercropping, livestock management among other things,” he further observed.
He added that they aimed to push for agro-ecology to be recognised as part of the action plans in climate change adaptation plans.
“Together with partners like the Food and Agriculture Organisation, we are working with the Government to develop an agroecology policy to drive the work that is being done by smallholder farmers in improving diversity in agriculture,” he said.
Meanwhile, small-scale farmers in Masvingo have not been left behind in employing old and traditional practices of agriculture that do not damage the environment and wildlife.
Shashe Village leader under Chief Bere, Mrs Happymore Mudyahoto revealed that community members in the Shashe block of farms began practicing agroecology in 2001, learning how to cultivate crops without the use of fertilisers, as well as producing all types of traditional seeds despite the prolonged dry spells affecting many farmers in Masvingo.
“We are very happy with agro-ecology because our soils work well with traditional grains,” she said.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter