By Tendai Guvamombe (Writer)
Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson D. Mnangagwa told Global Leaders at the just ended Conference of Parties (COP 28) held in United Arab Emirates(UAE) that Zimbabwe is making progress to strength food security through Agro-Ecology as a way to amplify climate change adaptation.
Agriculture is a sector classified under the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) in Zimbabwe’s Economy Wide Nationally Determined Contributions on Climate Change(NDCs).
The sector is relevant for Zimbabwe’s climate change scenario in both mitigation and adaptation.
Deliberations at the just ended COP 28 revealed that African communities needs to adapt in a manner that ensures food sovereignty to eliminate hunger and poverty.
However, adaptation financing remains a challenge in the global south and this will persist as evidenced by 700 Million pledged by Nexus Nations in UAE against a benchmarking of billions of dollars.
Given such a scenario, Africa is forced to devise mechanisms such as technology transfer and research to compensate the adaptation gap.
For the Zimbabwe’s situation, agro-ecology institutions such as Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre(FPC) has already moved a step further in research and knowledge sharing to assist myriad communities with sustainable farming practices.
In an interview with Fambidzanai Permaculture Agronomist and Agroecology Specialist Shepherd Mudzingwa said the institution is empowering small holder farmers to achieve food sovereignty through Agro-ecology practices.
“We work towards achieving a food secure Zimbabwe that depends on sustainable land based systems. We also work to restore people’s confidence to then produce from land whilst working creatively and in harmony with nature,” he said.
According to researches conducted by Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre, indigenous grains are adaptability and form resilience in dry conditions.
Improving soil fertility to a level beyond the need to apply fertilizer supplements is the major benefit that comes with agro ecology. The researches have also revealed that most agrarian lands in Zimbabwe have been disturbed or mined in a manner that sees all crops depending on artificial nutrients.
Statistics posted on Fambidzanai online portal shows that, the institution has trained more than 25 000 people across 59 districts in Zimbabwe.
The trainings carters for training officers in remote areas with more than 5000 currently implementing agro ecology practices.
When this publication visited Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre School of Agro Ecology in November 2023, saw professionals being conferred with Diploma Certificates in Agro Ecology and Bachelor of Science in Agro Ecology.
