In Zaka, a rural district in Zimbabwe’s Masvingo Province, smallholder farmers are embracing sustainable farming and forest management. Surrounded by Miombo and Mopane woodlands, they are finding new ways to grow food, protect the environment, and secure their futures.
This transformation is being driven by the Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme (DSL-IP). Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the initiative works with Zimbabwe’s government, NGOs, communities and the private sector.
The DSL-IP operates in seven Southern African countries. In Zimbabwe, the programme is targeting the root causes of land degradation, including deforestation, soil erosion and unsustainable farming. Its goal is to improve food security, restore ecosystems and build resilience in rural communities.
One key strategy is promoting drought-tolerant traditional grains such as sorghum and millet. These crops grow well in semi-arid conditions and are more reliable than maize as rainfall becomes unpredictable.
“Traditional grains are more than just food,” explains Andrew Mushita, Director of the Community Technology Development Organisation (CTDO). “They are climate-resilient crops that help safeguard food security.”
At the heart of the programme are Farmer Field Schools (FFS). These are community-based learning hubs where farmers gain practical knowledge on soil and water conservation. Guided by agricultural extension officers, farmers practise mulching, contour ploughing and building soil traps to reduce erosion and retain moisture.
The schools also promote neglected but resilient crops such as bambara nuts. These crops improve nutrition, generate income and enhance soil fertility. Linked with community seed banks and green value chains, the FFS model helps farmers protect biodiversity while accessing better markets.
“We used to lose so much topsoil during the rainy season,” says farmer Felistas Kubvoruno. “Now our fields are holding more water and the soil is healthier.”
The programme is also bringing mechanisation to smallholder farms. Tools such as two-wheel tractors, earth augers, row seeders and threshers are reducing the heavy labour burden and making conservation farming easier to adopt.
Farmer Olivia Chitono has seen the difference: “We used to farm small plots by hand. It was exhausting and unproductive. With mechanised tools, we can now grow more in less time.”
By reducing erosion and improving soil quality, these techniques help farmers withstand climate shocks. Higher yields also allow families to sell surplus crops, access credit and invest in long-term improvements.
Women in rural Zimbabwe often face the greatest workloads and the least access to resources. The DSL-IP ensures women have equal access to new tools and training, enabling them to take a more active role in farming and value chains.
Through partnerships with Great Zimbabwe University, the programme also supports women-led businesses in non-timber forest products such as baobab and marula. With nut crackers, oil extractors and grinding mills, women’s cooperatives can now process goods faster, meet quality standards and reach new markets.
“Mechanisation allows women to be more economically empowered and influential in their communities,” says Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa.
The impact is clear: soils are healthier, crops are more reliable, and incomes are improving. Farmers are less reliant on destructive practices like charcoal burning, while biodiversity is protected through seed banks and forest-friendly livelihoods.
“We are not just supporting food production,” says Talla. “We are empowering communities to build resilient livelihoods.”
With its integrated approach, combining knowledge, mechanisation and inclusive markets, the DSL-IP is helping farmers in Zaka and across Southern Africa to build a more sustainable future.
