Latest news with #Kujatana
Zawya
2 days ago
- General
- 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
4 days ago
- General
- 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.
