PELUM Zimbabwe in collaboration with the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), the Climate Change Management Department and the Agricultural, Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX) department facilitated a learning exchange visit at PORET Trust in Chimanimani district in Manicaland province. The exchange visit was attended by smallholder farmers, AGRITEX officers, media and Civil Society Organizations from different provinces.
One of the participants, Vimbai Mlambo (60), a smallholder farmer from the Chinyika communal lands in Masvingo province says the exchange visit helped her to gain practical knowledge about agroecology and that she was going to implement what she had learnt at her home.
“We had a practical session on growing trees and I learned a lot about growing trees. I also gained knowledge on agroforestry and how it helps to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve livelihoods,” says Vimbai.
Vimbai says she observed how smallholder farmers in Chimanimani were growing mahogany trees (mukamba). The tree is used by smallholder farmers to cure cattle tick related diseases and to make strong furniture. Vimbai adds that if the knowledge gained in Chimanimani is put to practice, local communities would be food secure and be resilient to climate change.
“I was glad to hear the testimonies from smallholder farmers practicing agroforestry. These farmers told us that besides helping in mitigating the effects of climate change it has also improved their livelihoods. I heard that some farmers sell the trees to get money for household expenses. Some farmers even used the money to finish construction of their houses, pay lobola and school fees,” says Vimbai.
Mufaro Mupetetsi (24), is affiliated with FACHIG, a PELUM Zimbabwe network member working with smallholder farmers in Muzarabani district. Mufaro says the training helped him to understand water harvesting strategies which are relevant to the districts were FACHIG is working.
“I have learnt about the importance of water harvesting and how it improves our environment. Some of the water harvesting strategies include setting up swales and earth dams that help to save water. I am eager to implement these with my fellow farmers,” says Mufaro.
Sekai Janga (53) is the Executive Director at Lower Guruve Development Association in Mashonaland Central province. She says she has learnt a lot during the training and is eager to implement it with her fellow farmers in Mbire district.
“The practices being carried by farmers in Mbire are not fully addressing agroecology. From this training l have learnt a lot which we can implement in our area. I have learned about holistic land and livestock management, use of movable kraals and the importance of agroforestry,” says Sekai.
Rachel Mufumuri (25), is the AGRITEX officer from the department of AGRITEX in Harare province. Rachel says the visit to PORET has shown her the value of agroecology in addressing the climate crisis that we face.
“I have noticed that the farmers in Chimanimani grow leguminous trees like the Acacia tress. These trees help in soil conservation and fixing nitrogen into the soil,” says Rachel.
Roseline Mukonoweshuro (49), Programmes Officer at TSURO Trust highlighted that agroforestry mitigates the effects of climate change as the trees help in sequestering carbon.
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