Tailoring conservation farming to climate change in the smallholder farming sector: Case of lowveld areas in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study on tailoring conservation farming to climate change attempted to design and proffer ways that enhance the application of climate information in managing climate-related production risks among smallholder farmers. The study characterized climate hazards related to crop and livestock production in marginal areas of Zimbabwe based on field observations. The study was carried out using a participatory and interactive survey approach. The climatic related risks impinging on livestock and cereal production in communal areas were outlined. A tailored seasonal climate forecast system, based on farmers’ contextual knowledge and conventional approaches, for smallholder farmers aimed at providing information relevant for the management of climate-related production risks was developed. Thus, local knowledge which made farming possible in the past, through pre-season and intra-season farm management strategies under harsh climatic conditions needs to be appreciated and fused into new climate systems. The study recommends that Agricultural Extension Workers should communicate agro-meteorological information that is usable by conservation farmers to manage their food production from an informed position. Local Agricultural Extension Workers should identify and provide key local coping strategies where the tailored forecast could be useful to the farmers since they are strategically positioned in relation to the farmers’ environment.