Project report

Project Results 

During the year the project worked in 209 villages in the districts of Chiredzi, Chipinge and Mwenezi to increase food security for vulnerable families. The project progressed well, meeting or exceeding its targets for the year.

Because of this project:

• 161 people (85% women) were trained as seed farmers of open pollinated small grain seed and legumes, producing good quality seed suited to local conditions that will be available to other farmers for planting in the 2014-15 agricultural season. 
• Agricultural Input and Technology Fairs were held prior to the planting season with local seed farmers, commercial seed companies and agricultural suppliers offering good quality inputs in accessible locations. 24 fairs were held, reaching more than 20,000 people. 
• The most food insecure households, particularly women-headed households, were identified through village-level processes. 4,022 households (85% women- headed) received US$35 vouchers to purchase small grain, vegetable and legume seeds and farming implements at the fairs. 
• 12 new nutrition gardens were established, benefitting an average of 35 households per garden. Many of the households are affected by HIV or labour constrained. 420 people participated in training on vegetable gardening, food processing and value addition. 
• 800 farmers were recruited and trained to work in groups of four to encourage local farmer groups to apply improved cultivation techniques. 17 field days were held focusing on conservation agriculture, small grain and legume cultivation. 
• Training took place in communities in the village saving and loan association methodology led to the establishment of 128 groups with 1,049 members (90% women), with total savings of US$29,000 at end March. 

Challenges

The rainfall in the 2013-14 agricultural season was above normal levels and extended over a longer period.  An armyworm pest outbreak in early February in part of Chiredzi district led to large crop losses due to lack of pesticides on hand.  While the project in conjunction with the government agricultural extension department responded quickly with pesticides, many farmers had to plant again in mid to late February. Fortunately with good rains continuing into April and the early maturing varieties of cereals being promoted through the project, farmers managed to get reasonable yields even in the armyworm outbreak areas. 

A quote from one of the project participants: 

“I was amazed at the rapid maturity of the CBC (a cowpea variety) seed that I received and planted. This crop managed to help my household through the normally hungry period of January and February because I was already harvesting it and cooking it for my household. In the past our children got malnourished during this period, but this time, it has been a different thing. It is because I listened to the advice to plant this cowpea variety.” 

What's next?

The project is continuing for three more financial years including FY 14-15, however, due to recent reduction in international funding, the budget has been reduced. The project team is proposing to reduce the number of wards of operation in Chiredzi district from 9 to 6 by dropping 3 wards.

Plan is currently working worldwide to find other donors that can support the continuation of the program in these wards.  

The funding for this project will go towards procuring foundation seed for the farmers, training the farmers and supporting poultry production and management.  The project is operating in the Chiredze, Chipinge & Mwenezi districts of Zimbabwe.

Project objective

1. Train farmers from each of the 15 wards as small grain seed multiplication farmers.
2. Establish more demonstration plots and on-farm learning and provide training in farming and post harvest techniques
3. Conduct community education workshops about the benefits of small grain production and inclusion of marginalised community groups.
4. Conduct training in poultry management and increase the poultry pass-on scheme.

Background into the current situation:

Many poor, food-insecure families in Zimbabwe rely on food aid and struggle to become self-sufficient. Compounding this is the harsh natural environment, with low rainfall and prolonged dry spells making it difficult to grow crops. Many families in rural Zimbabwe try to grow maize, which is not suited to the dry climate.

Many households are also headed by women. Often, husbands go to South Africa to find work, but due to low paying jobs or in some cases second families they provide little support to their families back home. Usually, these women receive limited practical assistance from male relatives (including brothers-in-law, fathers and other male relatives), have little control over assets (such as land and livestock) and have no say in community decision making as this is male-dominated. 

Photo: A first time seed farmer explaining her experiences

What is Plan doing?

Plan will be working with the most food insecure households, which include female headed households. We will be working in selected areas in nine wards in Chiredzi, three wards in Mwenzi and three wards in Chipinge.

In phase I of the project, which was implemented in Chiredzi district only, we trained lead farmers in sorghum, pearl millet and cow pea production. These farmers then passed this knowledge on to members of farmers groups, which were also formed as part of phase I.

We distributed chickens to more than 4,396 households, with a further 665 households receiving chickens through the pass-on scheme, in which chickens breed and their offspring are given to other families.

We also worked with communities to establish nutrition gardens and taught farmers practical skills through demonstration plots.

Phase II of the project will follow on from the achievements of phase I. In this new phase, the project will include two new districts, Chipinge and Mwenzi.

We will continue to work with households and farmers to establish demonstration plots and conduct on-farm learning activities. We will also continue the poultry pass-on scheme and train community members as small grain seed multiplication farmers.

Many of the households selected to participate in the project are headed by women, and women will also be trained as small grain seed multiplication farmers.

The project also promotes women’s active participation in decision-making in household and community roles, thus contributing to better gender equality in the community.