|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Writes Lloyd Rabaya
Under the fierce sun in Zvimba, about 95km northwest of Harare, Taurai Chikaka’s garden flourishes with life beneath the shade of a large mango tree. The secret to this thriving oasis? Agroecology—a farming approach that works with nature rather than against it.
Beneath the mango tree lie neatly tended sweet potato beds. They’re bordered by broad drains that capture and hold water, keeping the soil moist even during long dry spells. On one side of the entrance, lush green crops such as onions, vegetables, beans, and banana trees grow in profusion—an outcome of agroecological practices that support healthy soil and biodiversity.
“The trees give me fruit to eat and sell, and their leaves make good compost. Before planting, I use compost manure. That’s agroecology,” explained the 39-year-old farmer.
Compost is made from decomposed organic matter like vegetable scraps, dried leaves, and grass. It enriches the soil, improves structure, and boosts water retention.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agroecology combines ecological and social principles to create sustainable food systems. It aims to optimize interactions between plants, animals, people, and the environment to produce food in an environmentally friendly way.
Chikaka’s journey began in 2021 after a neighbour introduced her to the Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers Forum (ZIMSOFF). For her, joining ZIMSOFF changed everything.
“Before agroecology, I burned grass and maize stalks after harvest. For the past four years, I’ve used them to feed livestock and make compost,” she said.
She prepares her compost under the shade of a tree to preserve moisture and speed up decomposition.
“Through ZIMSOFF, I’ve learned many agroecology techniques and even won garden tools and a solar pump in our annual competitions. These have really improved my farming,” she added.
Chikaka also uses other agroecological methods, including crop rotation, intercropping, and water harvesting. Her garden boasts 14 shallow wells—some dug with help from neighbours—which she maintains by clearing silt and reinforcing the walls. These wells ensure a reliable water supply year-round, even with little rainfall.
“The wells make watering easier because each one serves the nearby plants. The water pump from ZIMSOFF also reduces the labour,” she said.
For Chikaka, agroecology means food sovereignty: the power to choose how she grows, harvests, and uses food in ways that respect her culture and environment. This includes the right to access safe, nutritious, culturally appropriate food using local resources.
She intercrops onions with vegetables, tomatoes, beans, and traditional grains like millet (zviyo), avoiding synthetic fertilizers in favour of organic manure from her livestock. This keeps costs low and feeds her family even on a small budget.
Farming has become her livelihood.
“I’m building a four-roomed house that’s at window level now, thanks to farming. I usually sell at Norton business centre, but locals here also love my organic vegetables,” she said proudly.
Her farm income supports not just her own children but also her grandchild (whose parents have passed away) and her brother’s four children, after his divorce left him unemployed. She teaches them all sustainable farming techniques.
Her success has inspired many in her village. Curious neighbours often visit to learn her methods.
“I’ve convinced many farmers to adopt agroecology by explaining the benefits. They also see the improvements in my life,” she said.
Looking ahead, Chikaka wants to expand production to ensure her family’s needs and supply the community with healthy, organic food.
“I sell a bucket of millet for US$35 and a bucket of maize for US$4. This year I want to grow more finger millet, pearl millet, Svoboda, peanuts, and beans,” she said.
Dr Witness Kozanai of Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology agrees agroecology offers multiple benefits.
“It mitigates climate change, delivers nutritious food, preserves biodiversity through techniques like avoiding harmful agrochemicals, using farmer-saved seeds, recycling resources, and promoting climate justice. It creates a food system that’s healthy and fair to both consumer and farmer,” he explained.
But Chikaka’s journey is not without challenges. Financial constraints make it hard to secure her entire garden.
“Part of it isn’t fenced, so cattle and goats sometimes get in and destroy crops. I have to be there from early morning to evening. When I go to the market in Norton, my husband watches the garden,” she said.
Travelling to Norton—about 80km away—is also costly, as she needs to hire transport. Winter weather can make it difficult for her solar-powered pump to work.
“Sometimes I have to use watering cans because the pump doesn’t work when it’s too cloudy. I’ll need to get an electric pump,” she added.
ZIMSOFF Programs Officer Patience Shumba emphasised how agroecology empowers women.
“Agroecology helps women achieve financial stability, self-sufficiency, and self-reliance. Diversifying crops improves yields and food security while creating opportunities to sell produce,” she said.
Chikaka’s work aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals: Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Life on Land (SDG 15), which calls for sustainable use of ecosystems and biodiversity conservation.
A representative of Headman Dununu praised agroecology for uplifting livelihoods in the area.
“Agroecology follows our traditional farming methods that don’t harm the soil or environment. Farmers here show us a way to end hunger without the costs of buying seed and fertilizer. Sharing this knowledge farmer-to-farmer is essential,” he said.
FAO reports that about 80% of Zimbabwe’s women live in communal areas, making up 61% of farmers and providing 70% of agricultural labour. Despite the challenges they face, women remain the backbone of Zimbabwe’s food security.
