Zimbabwe farmers try new growing methods as the weather turns harsher each year. Memory Mukototse from Kaidza village switched from maize to small grains after poor harvests. In 2020, she joined a test group with nine other farmers through a World Food Programme project. These farmers grow drought-tough crops like sorghum with less soil digging. They compare this against old farming ways on separate land plots.
Mukototse harvested good crops during recent dry weather when many fields failed. Her neighbor, Getrude Dzizi, also grew enough food for her family with extra to sell. Both women share what they learn with the nearby villages after each season. Their success makes other farmers want to try these methods on small plots. Farm groups hold seed events where people can trade both seeds and ideas about what works best.
Research groups moved their work directly to farm fields instead of test stations. This helps farmers see real results on their land rather than reading reports. The farmers track everything over several growing seasons to find what truly works. Simple changes like keeping the ground covered help the soil hold water during dry spells. More farmers adopt these practices every season across northern Zimbabwe.
Mukototse harvested good crops during recent dry weather when many fields failed. Her neighbor, Getrude Dzizi, also grew enough food for her family with extra to sell. Both women share what they learn with the nearby villages after each season. Their success makes other farmers want to try these methods on small plots. Farm groups hold seed events where people can trade both seeds and ideas about what works best.
Research groups moved their work directly to farm fields instead of test stations. This helps farmers see real results on their land rather than reading reports. The farmers track everything over several growing seasons to find what truly works. Simple changes like keeping the ground covered help the soil hold water during dry spells. More farmers adopt these practices every season across northern Zimbabwe.
