Young Agricultural Extension Officer leads change in Zimbabwe's Sebungwe Landscape
In Zimbabwe's Kariba District, a quiet transformation is taking place; driven by knowledge, inclusion, and resilience. Under the ZRBF 2 bridging fund project, 'Resilience Building in the Sebungwe Landscape', supported by the Embassy of Ireland through UNDP and implemented by FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, extension officers are being equipped with new tools to support climate-smart agriculture and local empowerment.
Thirteen AGRITEX officers, across 9 wards were trained using the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach, moving away from traditional top-down methods to a participatory model that empowers farmers to experiment, learn, and make their own decisions.
For Simbarashe Kashiri, an AGRITEX officer just 18 months into his role in Kariba District's Ward 4, the shift from a traditional, top-down extension approach to the Farmer Field School (FFS) model was transformative.
'I initially thought the only method used in delivering information to farmers was the top-down method where the Agricultural Extension Officer (AEO) makes all decisions and tells farmers what to do,' Kashiri recalls. 'But FFS training taught me about facilitation—where farmers are empowered to make their own decisions.'
Inspired by the training, Simbarashe immediately formed the Kujatana Farmer Field School group, comprising 24 members - 88 percent of them women. Their group is now cultivating tomatoes and producing their own organic Bokashi compost using goat manure, enhancing soil fertility and building sustainable food systems from the ground up.
Simbarashe's story is just one of many emerging from the project's holistic approach to resilience building. The 13 AGRITEX officers trained as FFS facilitators, helped to establish 12 Farmer Field Schools. These schools are not only technical training platforms but also spaces for empowerment, collective learning, and innovation—especially for women and youth.
The FFS initiative forms part of a broader strategy to improve natural resources management, promote climate-smart value chains, and strengthen resilience in vulnerable rural communities. Key value chains identified include goats, cattle, indigenous chickens, sorghum, fish, sesame, and chilies.
'This project contributes directly to FAO's Strategic Framework by promoting sustainable food systems and inclusive rural transformation through capacity building, climate-smart agriculture, and stakeholder engagement,' said Obert Maminimini, FAO Crops and Extension Specialist.
With local ownership and strategic planning, Zimbabwe's Sebungwe Landscape is on a path toward a more sustainable, resilient future.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Empowering voices, cultivating resilience: Farmer Field Schools transform lives in Zimbabwe's Sebungwe Landscape
In Zimbabwe's Kariba District, a quiet transformation is taking place driven by knowledge, inclusion, and resilience. Supported by the Embassy of Ireland through UNDP and led by FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, the ZRBF 2 bridging fund project 'Resilience Building in the Sebungwe Landscape' is unlocking the potential of local communities to lead the way in climate-smart agriculture and natural resources management. Shifting mindsets: From command to collaboration Simbarashe Kashiri, a young extension officer in Ward 4, Kariba shared how the training changed his outlook. 'I initially thought extension work was all about giving orders to farmers,' Simbarashe reflects. 'But now I understand the power of facilitation. In the Kujatana FFS group I helped establish, farmers are making their own decisions, and they're thriving.' That group, aptly named Kujatana (which means 'working together' in the local language), has 88 percent women, and is already reaping the rewards of collaboration. They are cultivating tomatoes and producing organic compost from goat manure using the Bokashi method - a climate-smart practice that enhances soil fertility while promoting food security and sustainable farming. Simbarashe's experience is just one among many inspired by the project's holistic, community-driven approach. Across nine wards in Kariba, 13 AGRITEX officers have been trained in the FFS model, resulting in the establishment of 12 Farmer Field Schools. More than just learning hubs, these schools are becoming spaces of empowerment, experimentation, and collective problem-solving, particularly for women and youth, who are leading the way in building local resilience. Linking local knowledge with strategic objectives The FFS approach not only improves local agricultural practices but also aligns with national and global sustainability targets. It supports FAO's Strategic Framework (2022–2031), which seeks to promote Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life, leaving no one behind. 'This project contributes directly to FAO's Strategic Framework by promoting sustainable food systems and inclusive rural transformation through capacity building, climate-smart agriculture, and stakeholder engagement. The adoption of the Farmer Field School approach exemplifies how local innovation and empowerment are essential to achieving resilience and sustainable development,' said Alexander Carr the Resilience Building in the Sebungwe Landscape, Project Coordinator. The project supports UN SDGs 1, 2, and 10, reinforcing the right to food, gender equality, and decent rural livelihoods. 'Particularly by advancing SDG Target 2.4 (sustainable food production systems) and promoting gender-sensitive value chains that create economic opportunities in rural areas,' asserted Obert Maminimini, FAO Crops and Extension Specialist. From chickens to chilies: Creating climate-smart livelihoods Through participatory processes involving over 240 farmers, seven climate-smart value chains were identified and analyzed: goats, cattle, indigenous chickens, sorghum, fish, sesame, and chilies. These value chains are being nurtured to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce environmental pressure, and increase household incomes. The promotion of these value chains reflects the project's broader vision: to create a landscape of resilience, where ecological conservation and human development go hand in hand. Alongside community empowerment, the project has laid a strong technical foundation for sustainable development. A high-resolution Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) map was developed using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, and ecological connectivity for elephants was modelled to guide land planning. These tools are vital for aligning conservation priorities with local livelihoods. More than 20 institutional stakeholders, including local government, conservation agencies, traditional leaders, and NGOs were engaged in mapping and consultation processes. This level of participation is essential for ensuring community ownership and policy alignment. Collaboration for long-term impact The Sebungwe project is not a standalone effort. It builds upon previous work under the EU-funded SWM 2 initiative and integrates FAO's GEF-7 supported Integrated Landscape Planning Model. Together with partners such as Nyaminyami Rural District Council, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, African Parks, and Peace Parks, the project lays the groundwork for a comprehensive, coordinated resilience-building strategy in Zimbabwe. In addition, the project's success in integrating ecological and socio-economic priorities through land use planning, natural resources governance, and value chain development sets the stage for the larger European Union funded Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) Phase 2 implementation. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Zawya
Young Agricultural Extension Officer leads change in Zimbabwe's Sebungwe Landscape
In Zimbabwe's Kariba District, a quiet transformation is taking place; driven by knowledge, inclusion, and resilience. Under the ZRBF 2 bridging fund project, 'Resilience Building in the Sebungwe Landscape', supported by the Embassy of Ireland through UNDP and implemented by FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, extension officers are being equipped with new tools to support climate-smart agriculture and local empowerment. Thirteen AGRITEX officers, across 9 wards were trained using the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach, moving away from traditional top-down methods to a participatory model that empowers farmers to experiment, learn, and make their own decisions. For Simbarashe Kashiri, an AGRITEX officer just 18 months into his role in Kariba District's Ward 4, the shift from a traditional, top-down extension approach to the Farmer Field School (FFS) model was transformative. 'I initially thought the only method used in delivering information to farmers was the top-down method where the Agricultural Extension Officer (AEO) makes all decisions and tells farmers what to do,' Kashiri recalls. 'But FFS training taught me about facilitation—where farmers are empowered to make their own decisions.' Inspired by the training, Simbarashe immediately formed the Kujatana Farmer Field School group, comprising 24 members - 88 percent of them women. Their group is now cultivating tomatoes and producing their own organic Bokashi compost using goat manure, enhancing soil fertility and building sustainable food systems from the ground up. Simbarashe's story is just one of many emerging from the project's holistic approach to resilience building. The 13 AGRITEX officers trained as FFS facilitators, helped to establish 12 Farmer Field Schools. These schools are not only technical training platforms but also spaces for empowerment, collective learning, and innovation—especially for women and youth. The FFS initiative forms part of a broader strategy to improve natural resources management, promote climate-smart value chains, and strengthen resilience in vulnerable rural communities. Key value chains identified include goats, cattle, indigenous chickens, sorghum, fish, sesame, and chilies. 'This project contributes directly to FAO's Strategic Framework by promoting sustainable food systems and inclusive rural transformation through capacity building, climate-smart agriculture, and stakeholder engagement,' said Obert Maminimini, FAO Crops and Extension Specialist. With local ownership and strategic planning, Zimbabwe's Sebungwe Landscape is on a path toward a more sustainable, resilient future. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Zawya
Zimbabwe: Unchecked development eats up wetlands in Harare
Linda Mujuru, GPJ Zimbabwe As wetland destruction escalates across the city, the Greystone Nature Reserve wetland is preserved by local residents in an effort to protect one of Zimbabwe's rapidly disappearing ecosystems. This story was originally published by Global Press Journal HARARE, ZIMBABWE — Not long ago, grass and flowers grew on the wetland in Borrowdale. Flocks of birds — including red and yellow bishops — were common here, and butterflies too. 'Everything from anthills, fig trees and flowers. People took walks there to enjoy the tranquility of the place,' says Brian Foster Mawer, a resident of Dandaro Retirement Village, which abuts the wetland. The 79-year-old has lived here for more than two decades and has watched much of the wetland disappear. Over time, people have dug up swathes of the land to cultivate maize, slowly degrading this natural flood buffer and vital water reservoir. But the remaining wetland may not survive much longer. Vifot Investments, a real estate investment company, aims to plant concrete in the heart of the wetland. Heavy vehicles have already started pouring construction materials into this neighborhood west of Harare, as the company primes the land to construct 130 homes and 20 office blocks. This project, still in its early stages, is just one example of a broader trend where authorities approve large-scale construction projects on wetlands despite clear environmental warnings, says Reuben Akili, director of the Combined Harare Residents Association. All this is happening as Zimbabwe prepares to host the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in July. This global summit is dedicated to protecting the world's remaining wetlands, but conservationists say the country is losing its own at an alarming rate, and in many cases through questionable land deals and by ignoring environmental regulations. Linda Mujuru, GPJ Zimbabwe Roger Fairlie sits on a bench overlooking a wetland he helps preserve with other residents in Harare. Fairlie, founder of the Greystone Nature Reserve, has been vocal about the urgent need to protect wetlands from unchecked development. 'The city of Harare has been irresponsible in terms of allocating pieces of land. They have been allocating land anywhere,' says Robert Mutyasira, chairperson of the Borrowdale Residents and Ratepayers Association. But the concern runs deeper than just one neighborhood and one construction project. In 2013, the Longcheng Plaza mall opened atop a vital wetland along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway. An analysis by Harare Wetlands Trust, using field surveys and Google Earth imagery, found that wetlands across Harare declined by 50% between 2007 and 2019. The study focused on 10 key headwater wetlands, including Borrowdale. The organization attributes the loss to cultivation, housing developments and illegal settlement. Wetlands act as natural sponges for rain. Because so many have been destroyed, heavy flooding has become a norm in the Harare suburbs of Budiriro and Mabvuku. The concern for wetlands preservation stretches beyond Zimbabwe. Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, is sinking due to decades of wetland destruction. The crisis there is so bad that the government is relocating the national capital. In Brazil, massive developments are eating into the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland. And in Argentina, the Parana Delta luxury projects are taking over this vital ecosystem. In fact, around 35% of the world's wetlands have disappeared since 1970. In many of these cases, governments are scrambling to contain the damage, if a little too late. But in Zimbabwe, the government is aiding destruction that, if continued unchecked, could lead to more severe flooding and worse water shortages, environmentalists say. On paper, the country has strong environmental laws. Development on or near a wetland requires consultation with the Environmental Management Agency, and construction should only happen after an environmental impact assessment is approved by the agency. But enforcement is lax. In the Vifot Investments case, environmentalists from the Harare Wetlands Trust in a 2021 report accuse authorities of approving an environmental impact assessment while ignoring the serious irregularities it contained. They allege that Vifot included wrong information about the exact location of the site in the assessment they submitted, in order to bypass regulations. Although the project site is on a wetland, they say the assessment inaccurately categorizes it as within a light industrial zone in Tynwald, a different location. The case has been in the national spotlight for some time now. Several city officials have been arrested or charged over the land deal, including Aaron Chigona, director of the Environmental Management Agency. He was arrested in January 2024 and spent over a year on remand for his alleged role in the controversial land deal. This March, the court freed him without prosecution, and he retained his role at the agency. Linda Mujuru, GPJ Zimbabwe The Borrowdale Vlei wetland in Harare. A real estate investment company plans to build 130 cluster homes and 20 office blocks on the wetland, raising concerns among environmentalists and residents about water access and ecosystem degradation. The agency was satisfied with the Vifot environmental impact assessment, says Amkela Sidange, education and publicity manager. The project will have minimal impact on the wetland, she says. '[It] includes a nature park within the wetland area, enhancing rather than harming it. The cluster homes will occupy just 5 hectares of non-wetland land,' she says. When Global Press Journal first reached out to Vifot Managing Director Liangming Jin, he offered the reporter US$200 for 'lunch,' which she declined. What he later told Global Press Journal contradicts information from authorities. First, Jin says the company plans to construct residential houses on 14 hectares of the land, contrary to the 5 hectares mentioned by Sidange. The company will then construct office blocks on the rest of it. 'I will know the finer details of the office plans in six months, as my architects are still designing,' he says. Vifot will implement several measures to minimize impact on the environment, such as water canals, he says. Jin says he bought the land from the city of Harare. Mayor Jacob Mafume tells Global Press Journal he isn't aware of Vifot's particular project, but says he is aware that wetlands are being sold illegally in the country. Linda Mujuru, GPJ Zimbabwe Liangming Jin, managing director of Vifot Investments, at his office in Harare. His company's plans to develop housing and office blocks on a protected wetland have drawn criticism over misleading environmental assessments and the impact on Harare's already strained water system. 'Sometimes it's not brought to our attention,' Mafume says. When problems are brought to their attention, he says his office 'will attend to the reversal if need be or attend to the rectification of whatever problems have emanated from the permission that has been granted.' The judicial system has failed to protect the country's wetlands, says Mutyasira, from the Borrowdale residents association. 'We have not seen success in the courts.' When wetlands are private property, the issue becomes even more difficult to contest, he adds. But heftier penalties might help. 'Even if wetlands are privately owned, that ownership should be taken away,' he adds. One solution could be getting the community involved, says Roger Fairlie, founder of the Greystone Nature Reserve, a wetland he maintains with other local residents. 'You can't do it on your own,' he says. The real power, he adds, lies in helping people understand just how important wetlands are. Sidange, from the Environmental Management Agency, says companies with approved projects should not see approval as a green light to degrade the environment. It's a commitment for them to protect it. If not, authorities could easily cancel or nullify certification for construction, she says. Meanwhile, as the world prepares to gather in Harare and discuss protection of wetlands, the ground beneath this city is disappearing. The city doesn't supply water to many areas of Harare, while in many others the water that arrives is contaminated. People like Mawer rely on boreholes. But even the boreholes are drying up, and a large construction project could choke what groundwater remains. © Copyright The Zimbabwean. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
