Agroecological practices revive ecosystem

Lizzy Njove (32) who lives with her three children in Muringi village, Zvishavane works with PELUM Zimbabwe member, Muonde Trust. She says agroforestry has revived her farmland and yields and she is supplementing her family’s diet through planting fruit trees. Lizzy also adds that her community is also benefitting from biodiversity conservation as some dwindling species of flora and fauna are now reappearing in her community. Photo: Daniel Ndlovu/Muonde Trust

Smallholder farmers in Zvishavane district are halting and reversing the threat of desertification through agroecology practices.

With the support of PELUM Zimbabwe member, Muonde Trust, Tadzei Bvute (48), and other smallholder farmers have revived the fertility of their crop fields and are rebuilding their ecosystem.

“Growing up we used to have a lot of trees in our area, but over the years the trees were being cut down and a lot of biodiversity disappeared. Small animals, insects and plants started disappearing but through our efforts and support from Muonde Trust, we are working towards restoring biodiversity,” she says.

Tadzei says biodiversity in her communities has improved and this is helping fight land degradation.

Lizzy Njove (32) is also a smallholder farmer from Zvishavane district. She says she has noted an improvement in the fertility of soils in her crop field.

Lizzy says she has been planting fruit trees on her one-acre plot as a biodiversity and environmental conservation mechanism, a method she learned through PELUM Zimbabwe member, Muonde Trust. Lizzy and 579 other women have benefitted from trainings and support from Muonde Trust.

“I used to cultivate maize but struggled to get good harvests. Muonde Trust intervened and trained me on agroforestry. This helped me reclaim my farmland. I now have better harvests and I’m able to take care of my family,” says Lizzy.

Some of the agroecology practices being implemented by smallholder farmers working with Muonde Trust include intercropping and agroforestry. These practices led to a boom in the population of wildlife.

Daniel Ndlovu (34), is the Research Officer at Muonde Trust. He says farmers are now planting fruit trees and practicing intercropping which is helping to improve biodiversity.

Daniel says Muonde Trust established a learning centre in Zvishavane for farmers to learn about agroecology and this is what has led to quicker uptake of agroecology practices by farmers.

“Our trainings focus on strengthening farmers’ capacity to regenerate their landscapes. They achieve this through planting more trees, water harvesting, and implementing other landscape regeneration,” says Daniel.

Muonde Trust has a learning center where farmers learn about agroecology. The training centre is having profound impact on the lives of many farmers in Zvishavane district.