A regenerative scoring system that is being used by smallholder farmers in Mabale village in Hwange district is motivating farmers to adopt agroecology practices that help to heal the land.
The regenerative scoring system awards points to farmers who adopt any agroecology practice. After a while, the points accumulate with the adoption of more practices. Accumulated points are then redeemed in the form of technologies or infrastructure that further supports smallholder farmers to heal their depleted land.
Brent Stapelkamp is the Managing Director for Soft Foot Alliance, an organisation that is spearheading the regenerative scoring system. Brent says the process seeks to reduce overgrazing, erosion and deforestation.
“We want smallholder farmers to adopt agroecology practices. We do not give prizes to smallholder farmers in the strict sense of the word. Each practice adopted by a smallholder farmer attracts different amounts of points related to their value on a landscape. Herding livestock according to a holistic grazing plan and using a rocket stove daily attracts the highest number of points a month,” says Brent.
Brent adds that the reason why herding livestock according to a holistic grazing plan and using a rocket stove daily attracts the highest number of points because they are the most important practices in terms of reducing overgrazing, erosion and deforestation. He says participating in these two activities earns farmers 30 points a month.
Brent says when a farmer has accumulated enough points, he or she can purchase items like a rain water harvesting tank (270 points) or mobile kraal (470 points).
Annacletor Moyo (58), a smallholder farmer from Masikili village 2 received a rain water harvesting tank after accumulating 270 points from the agroecological activities she is practicing.
“I got a 3500-litre water tank from using agroecology practices. I am into goat rearing and we have six (6) paddocks where we keep our goats and practice planned grazing. This has improved soil fertility and increased grass species within our area. I have also constructed swales in my field to harvest water,” says Annacletor.
Annacletor adds that the regenerative scoring system introduced by Soft Foot Alliance in Hwange has made smallholder farmers to realize their abilities especially when they work as groups.
“The regenerative scoring system has increased our knowledge in agroecology and improved our relationships with other smallholder farmers as we will be working in groups,” says Annacletor.
Annacletor says she uses goat droppings as manure for her plants. She says she has a garden where she grows vegetables throughout the year using agroecology principles.
“Besides using permaculture practices in my garden, I also use a tsotso stove (rocket stove) which uses less firewood,” says Annacletor.
Annacletor started practicing agroecology in 2018 and up to date she has seen more benefits and wants to take the agroecology work further.
“I have been enjoying the benefits of agroecology though they are not yet very big. We now have abundant grass for our livestock, improved soil fertility which has increased our yields, and increased knowledge about conservation of our natural ecosystems and their importance to the environment,” says Annacletor.
Annacletor reveals that she plans to use the knowledge and skills that she gained to produce oils and jam from the indigenous trees.
“Agroecology is the cheapest method of farming which uses locally available resources. It also leads to improvement of the soil fertility. This is helping me to be food secure,” says Annacletor.
Msungwe Sithole (41) the Permaculture trainer and garden supporter for Soft Foot Alliance says his organisation’s work was motivated by the need to reduce donor dependency.
“We started the scoring system after we had noticed that smallholder farmers were being dependent on donors and Non-governmental organizations through receiving handouts. Using the scoring system gave them the chance of experimenting different ways of improving their land in a sustainable way,” says Msungwe.
The regenerative scoring system has united communities towards a collective vision of healing their land.
“A village committee is selected and monthly they travel to each participating homestead to score the farmer’s regenerative work. At the end of month, the scores are calculated and printed out for people to see,” says Brent.
The regenerative scoring system is beginning to bear fruits as more smallholder farmers practice agroecology. Some of these practices include landscape level rain water harvesting in swales and gabions, compost making and using a mobile livestock kraal to fertilize the fields.
Comentarios