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As the country is predicted to become drier in coming decades, livestock farmers have been implored to rear animals suitable to their agro-ecological to climate-proof their operations, and maintain viability.

Zimbabwe is applying a number of climate smart agricultural practises such as water harvesting, manure management and rearing of small livestock such as goats to cope with increased drought frequency which have contributed to a decrease in agricultural yields.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development Minister, Anxious Masuka emphasized the need for farmers to focus on smaller and harder stocks of livestock for climate proofing.

“You also need to climate proof agriculture for livestock because we are predicted to become drier in the decades ahead,” he said.

“It means the livestock you produce in (a) particular area has to be suitable to agro-ecological zones and you now need to emphasize on smaller stock. This is why we have the Presidential goat scheme which is also prioritising giving goats in villages with smaller stock. You need smaller stock for climate proofing,” he added.

Masuka said government has adopted climate smart agricultural interventions both at household and national level to ensure the nation is food secure, adding that other development partners such as the European Union (EU) were complimenting their efforts.

“This is what we are doing and all these other development partners, including the EU and others are coming to assist government in this noble effort.

“Over the three years or seasons we have done this, we are now food secure as a nation because we have adopted this climate smart agriculture interventions at household level and also at national level,” Masuka said.

He also said government is expected to increase hectarage under irrigation from the current 203 000 to 350 000 hectares by 2025 through the climate proofing programme for crops.

The country introduced the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme in 2020 targeting small holder farmers.

The concept is based on using a small land area and conservation agriculture principles to have higher returns.

Masuka said government will be bringing mechanisation for smart agriculture at household level starting with 600 two-wheel tractors which will be distributed this year.

He pointed that government is also climate proofing at national level through accelerated water harvesting through dam and borehole drilling for communities.

“We have drilled 35 000 boreholes and now we have 10 600 dams and government is constructing 11 more dams and to irrigate additional 74 000 hectares. Currently we irrigate, 203 000 hectares and we want to get to 350 000 hectares by 2025,” he said.

—New Ziana