Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
Over 15 000 farmers in dryland areas in some parts of the country are set to benefit from more than 190 pieces of equipment provided under the Drylands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme (DSLIP).
This initiative is being implemented in eleven countries across Southern Africa, West Africa and Asia by GEF7 partners.
The targeted dry areas include Masvingo, Midlands, and Manicaland, which are particularly affected by desertification, land degradation, and drought associated with Mopane and Miombo woodlands, notably in the Save and Runde catchment arears of Zimbabwe.
The programme aims to restore over 170 000 hectares of degraded land, including agricultural land and focuses on empowering women, with 52 percent of the beneficiaries receiving training in sustainable practices.
This initiative aligns with the Government’s low-labour, high-yield Pfumvudza/Intwasa Initiative.
Speaking during the commissioning of small agricultural equipment in Harare, Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Dr Evelyne Ndlovu, emphasised the importance of this equipment in helping farmers overcome vulnerabilities to climate change.
“We distributed equipment today, launching tools for farmers in the dryland areas of Masvingo, Manicaland, and one district in the Midlands Province, which consistently suffer from climate change and low rainfall,” she said.
“We are providing them with hand-driven tractors, which just one person can operate. Along with the tractors, we are giving them trailers for transporting crops from the field to the village and grinding mills for value addition.”
Dr Ndlovu also highlighted the promotion of traditional grains.
“We want to promote our traditional grains and foods internationally,” she said.
“Many visitors to Zimbabwe seek our gastronomy, made up of small grains like rapoko and millet, traditionally valued by our ancestors.
“We are returning to our roots, promoting a lifestyle that our ancestors followed, which avoided diseases such as diabetes.”
She added that some of the equipment received will enhance soil management systems. National Project Coordinator for the GEF7 project, Mrs Precious Magwaza, welcomed the initiative, saying the majority of smallholder farmers are benefiting.
“This kind of support is significant for small-scale farmers. Today, as we witness the commissioning of small-scale equipment, we are supporting our communities, enabling them to complete tasks in markedly less time.”
The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility through the Food and Agriculture Organisation as the implementing entity. It seeks to restore degraded land and forests while collaborating with various partners, including Community Technology Development Organisation (CDTO) for sustainable land management, EMA for catchment management and the Forestry Commission for tree planting and forest management activities.
“We are also supporting traditional grains and small livestock, demonstrating sustainable practices at the local level, with the interest of rolling it out nationally and regionally,” said Mrs Magwaza.
She said they have established community seed banks in four areas to enhance resilience and have installed six solar – powered boreholes to provide water in dryland communities.
FAO subregional coordinator for Southern Africa, Dr Patrice Talla, represented by Subregional Office for Southern Africa forestry officer, Dr Rene Czudek, noted the project’s ambitious objectives.
“We expect it to restore 2 150 hectares of degraded land and bring 172 000 hectares of landscape under improved practices through integrated land use and sustainable land management,” he said.
The project aims to mitigate 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 greenhouse gas emissions and deliver benefits to 15 000 direct beneficiaries.
Activities implemented include developing integrated land use plans, establishing 600 farms and community seed plans, and creating community-based forest management groups, accompanied by numerous training sessions on various sustainable practices.
“The equipment has been valued by communities, significantly reducing labour requirements and even encouraging some farmers to become dependent on similar equipment for their own use,” Dr Talla stated.
Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation, Farm Infrastructure Development, and Soil Conservation chief director Engineer, Edwin Samuel Zimunga, expressed optimism about the investment’s potential to ensure food security.
“The investment we are witnessing today more than 1 900 pieces of equipment designed to enhance production, including two-wheel tractors, double furrow ploughs, double row planters, and multi-crop threshers, will benefit farmers immensely,” he said.
Eng Zimunga highlighted Zimbabwe’s significant progress in addressing agricultural mechanisation gaps in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Agricultural Policy Framework, which runs until 2030.
“The service provider model we witnessed today, propelled by CTDO, represents a crucial investment in food and water mechanisation.”
CTDO executive director, Mr Tonderai Mushita, described the initiative as an important milestone for the communities they serve.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy, but older farmers in marginal and remote areas face immense challenges, including labour-intensive practices and the increasing impacts of climate change. Agricultural mechanisation is key to reducing labour intensity and promoting equitable food production systems. It should link directly with extension staff, technology developers, finance and market resources.”
As this transformative project continues to unfold, it symbolises a collective effort to uplift smallholder farmers, bolster agricultural productivity and enhance rural livelihoods across Zimbabwe.
