PELUM-ZWE member, Chikukwa Ecological Land Use Community Trust (CELUCT) is working with the Chikukwa community to restore degraded land and improve agricultural productivity in Chimanimani district, Manicaland province, Eastern Zimbabwe.
CELUCT is addressing the problem of land degradation which is caused mainly by unsustainable farming practices. This locks many smallholder farmers in cycles of poverty. In a bid to address the root cause of the problem, smallholder farmers in Chikukwa welcomed an initiative that focused on improving soils. The community collectively mapped out strategies to restore depleted land and improve productivity.
One of the smallholder farmers working with CELUCT under their land restoration programme is John Njanji (54). Before implementing land restoration activities, John had been accustomed to using industrial agriculture production practices. He had observed a massive reduction in the depth of top soil and loss of organic matter in his field.
“I own a 2 hectare plot which I use to produce food for my family. For many years I could not produce adequate food because my farming methods were not productive and they were also not sustainable,” says John.
John decided to make drastic changes. He says his journey to rehabilitate his crop field was tough yet highly rewarding.
“Through workshops, exchange visits and trainings that I got from CELUCT, I learnt and understood that in order to improve my harvest I needed to invest in soil improvement and water harvesting techniques. I went on to construct water harvesting swales which are dead level contours meant to reduce run off, spread water, and increase the water table in the field. I also dug a pit which I use to recycle green waste for manure throughout the year,” says John.
In addition to improving water retention capacity and soil fertility, John grows various fruit trees in his field. The trees play a vital role in the water and nutrient cycles.
“I grow bananas, paw-paws, apples, avocados, lemons, tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea), mulberry, granadilla, coffee berries-SL28 and elderberry. To reproduce and multiply my fruit trees, I practice grafting,” says John.
John says he is pleased with the changes that he made. Many smallholder farmers in Chikukwa are now emulating him. They constantly visit his crop field to learn from him.
“The demonstration plots where we experiment and implement these sustainable farming practices are successful. They attract many farmers who then go on to implement the practices in their own crop fields,” says John.
Looking ahead, John vows never to use synthetic fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides on his land again. He says he understands the concept of working in harmony with nature.
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