Zimbabwe

Agroecology

The Zimbabwean Story of Resilience

About Shashe District

In Shashe District, located in the dry Masvingo Province of Zimbabwe, women have shown remarkable resilience in the face of challenging climatic conditions. They have adopted agroecology practices to combat the adverse effects of climate change and ensure food security for their families and communities.

Agroecology involves sustainable farming practices that work with nature to improve soil health, conserve water, and increase biodiversity. Women in Shashe have embraced techniques such as zero tillage, which minimizes soil disturbance, and the use of drought-resistant crops like sorghum, millet, and cowpeas.

These practices help maintain soil fertility and reduce the need for chemical inputs, making farming more sustainable and less labor-intensive.

Additionally, the community has established the Shashe Agroecology School, where farmers share knowledge and learn about water harvesting, seed sovereignty, and organic soil management.

Participating Farmers

  • Elizabeth Mpofu: NAFI Lead, 61
  • Ana Rungwe, 54
  • Joice Kuchicha, 42
  • Exude Mawara, 50
  • Nethi Dube, 61
  • Vongai Dube, 51
  • Cathrine Dzingai, 61
Our farmers and the NAFI lead
Photo credit: Chris Chinyoka

How the Story Begins

Seed Preservation

Seed is the beginning of any farmer’s journey. Those small grains hold the promise of a food secure future. It is usually an expensive input which some farmers struggle to afford. The farmers of Shashe do not buy seed but preserve their own seed in seed banks and also share seed amongst themselves. The women have developed innovative ways to preserve their seed. They keep them in jars, bottles, barrels or keep them underground mixed with preservatives such as ash and sand.
Photo credit: Catherine Mudzingwa (Left), Chris Chinyoka (Right)

Problem vs. Solution

Problem

There is not much support for farmers of traditional crops and agroecological farming methods. There is not much availability of seed varieties for traditional crops.

Solution

The women preserve their own seed , they exchange seed among themselves and at seed fairs. They also exchange knowledge on agroecological farming methods.

Land Preparation

Land preparation is quite labour intensive as most subsistence farmers do not have equipment for land preparation but the women have mastered the art of working together to prepare land and weed their crops. A notion called “nhimbe” or “humwe” in the local language. The farmer who requires help annunces their desire and the day they require the help, then provide refreshments, food and beer to collaborators.

Intercropping is one of the agroecological tools the farmers are using to overcome a host of problems and score a harvest. Intercropping certain crops ensures the survival of others by killing or repelling pests which affect the other crops.
Intercropping, definitely the Shashe way
Photo credit: Catherine Mudzingwa
The farmers use organic fertilisers and pesticides. This helps to increase harvests while eliminating the effects of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. They have compost heaps on which they incorporate chicken manure and dung from cows and goats.
Photo credit: Chris Chinyoka
The farmers keep chickens and goats and nothing is thrown away. What the farmers produce is consumed by the family, the livestock consume the by-products and their waste is made use of as organic fertilizers
Watch a video of Nethi Dube feeding her fowl
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Use of organic solutions for wholesome organically grown crops

Photo credit: Elizabeth Mpofu
Watch a video of Video of A farmer preparing a trench for her field
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The farmers use water harvesting techniques to overcome the harsh Masvingo climate and climate change-induced droughts being experienced throughout the region. The farmers dig trenches called “gandiwa” in the local language, big holes and earth dams to retain water and keep crops watered.

Use of earth dams and big holes

Photo credit: Joice Kuchicha

...and more earth dams.

Watch a Video of an earth dam in Nethi Dube’s field. She explains how the earth dam helps with water harvesting for her field.
Watch

Knowledge Sharing

Agroecological practices are still more of a nouvelle initiative in most parts of the country. Though they were practised long ago by our ancestors, most farmers have over the decades embraced western farming techniques. The farmers of Shashe share agroecological farming techniques with each other through workshops, traditionally passed down methods and field visits. They also participate in exhibitions and seed fairs where they interact with other farmers and experts from different districts.
Shashe farmers exhibiting their crops.
Photo credit: Chris Chinyoka
Watch
Watch a Video of the farmers participating at the National Good Food Festival held in Harare in September 2024. They exhibited their crops, shared their knowledge and made some sales.

Results of their Hard Work

As a result of using agroecological farming methods, the farmers have achieved a sustainable livelihood and an impressive level of food security. They have a varied diet from the crops they farm including the ones under study. They have managed to impact their communities through sharing their knowledge and skills by participating in community events where they cook for their communities as a way of getting them to appreciate traditional grains.

The farmers have become women of substance who have managed to extend their dwellings, paint and floor their homes as well as purchasing household property and small livestock from the proceeds of their farming.

Most importantly their families get to enjoy delicious and nutritious meals every day.
Cooked Sweet Potatoes
A Local Favorite, a Mixture of of Cowpeas and Bambara Nuts
Photo credit: Exude Mawara (Left), Anna Rungwe (Right)
Watch a Video of Anna Rungwe preparing to cook a pumpkin for her family
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Happiness is a plate!
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That's their story!

More NAFI stories...

L’agroécologie : Une histoire zimbabwéenne de résilience

A Fusion of Flavours: Pumpkin Leaves & Amaranthus

Cowpea Processing: From Field to Home