Small grain production as an adaptive strategy to climate change in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South in Zimbabwe

A review of appropriate mechanisation systems for sustainable traditional grain production by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa with particular reference to Zimbabwe

Climate change and variability is affecting the production of maize, a staple food in Zimbabwe, leading to the advocacy for production of traditional grains (sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet) as complementary crops for food and nutrition security; mainly because of their drought tolerance. Adoption of traditional grains as a climate change adaptation strategy is, however, limited by lack of appropriate field mechanisation technologies, inter alia. The specific objective of this review was to examine the field mechanisation technologies being used in different farming systems across the globe for their appropriateness in smallholder traditional grain production systems in developing countries, using Zimbabwe as an example, and focusing on the prevailing technical, socio-economic and environmental factors which influence sustainable adoption. The review was conducted by searching ScienceDirect, Researchgate, JSTOR, Springer, AGORA and Google Scholar databases for mechanisation strategies, policies, machinery and equipment used in cereal production systems across the globe. The review revealed that the mechanisation of traditional grain production operations is lagging behind that of other cereals and that there is need to work on developing appropriate mechanisation systems for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Various farm power options were analysed and the use of two-wheel tractors under service-provision was identified as the most suitable option. Conservation agriculture-based direct seeders and use of mowers or bio-pesticides are the best-suited technologies for crop establishment and weed control, respectively. In terms of harvesting, no available equipment can be recommended for smallholder use as yet. Further research is required to optimize the practical application of mowers and bio-pesticides as well as develop scale-based direct seeders and harvesting equipment. Policy issues were identified and recommendations for improvement made. The findings of the current study can be adapted by other sub-Sahara Africa countries where farming systems, priorities and challenges are similar to that of Zimbabwe.

Impacts of climate change on household food security in Matande communal lands, Mwenezi district in Zimbabwe

Mwenezi district is a drought prone area characterised by high temperatures, droughts, rainfall deficit, crop failures and chronic food deficiencies. Rainfed agriculture can no longer be sustained without any innovations. The study explored the impacts of climate change on household food security among the vulnerable populations of Matande communal lands, Mwenezi district in Zimbabwe. The study is guided by the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF). An exploratory sequential research design was adopted, and a total of 78 respondents were selected from the population of 371 households using purposive and cluster sampling techniques. Data collection was triangulated through the use of household survey, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and observations. The thematic approach and SPSS software were used to analyse qualitative and quantitative data, respectively. Results demonstrated that climate change propelled increases of pests and diseases for both livestock and crops, reduction of meals uptake per day, biodiversity loss and dwindled crop production. Livestock increases were recorded despite the changing climate shows a nexus with food insecurity. The research called for the adoption of drought-tolerant crops, capacity building through climate change resilience programmes, livestock centric in diversification, improved formal markets for livestock and tapping of underground water for irrigation and other purposes to complement existing water bodies to prevent them drying up early.

Contribution

There is deepening aridification in Mwenezi district because of climate change resulting in the continuous obliteration for the worst of agro-ecological regions iv and v reclassified into a and b. This confirmed the heterogeneity of various climatic conditions and variability within the same geographical context. However, vulnerability continues to be generalised into regions. The study investigates the impacts of climate change typical to Matande communal lands with the view to generate knowledge relevant to review adaptation practices specific to the researched area in order to escalate community resilience.

Rethinking Blended High Yielding Seed Varieties and Partial-Organic Fertilizer Climate Smart Agriculture Practices for Productivity and Farm Income Gains in the Drylands of Zimbabwe

Most blended climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies focusing on seed-fertilizer combinations have either been marginally adopted or dis-adopted by smallholder farmers due to the nature of design and implementation. A data science research approach was used with 380 households in the mid-Zambezi Valley of Zimbabwe. The study examines impact of adopting a farmer initiated CSA practice combining improved sorghum seed variety and partial-organic fertilizer on household income and productivity among smallholder farmers in the drylands of Zimbabwe. A cross sectional household survey using multi stage sampling with purposive and stratified proportionate approaches was conducted. A structured questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model was utilized to account for self-selection bias of sampled farmers. Overall, a combination of farm specific factors (arable land, variable costs) and external factors (distance to the market, value of aid) have a bearing on the adoption decision and the associated impact on productivity and income. The counterfactual analysis shows that farmers who adopt the technology are relatively better off in productivity and income. Our findings highlight the significance of improving access to CSA practices which are initiated by the farmers using a bottom-up approach since they suit their operating contexts better. Tailor-made supporting programs including farmer networking platforms and decentralized markets need to be designed and scaled up by policymakers to encourage farmers to adopt blended soil fertility CSA practices in their farming practices. Networking arrangements need to be strengthened through local, government and private sector partnerships along the sorghum value chain.