Agroecology Initiative Agroecological Living Landscapes: A Context Assessment in Murewa, Zimbabwe Vimbayi G. P. Chimonyo, Telma Sibanda, Dennis J. Choruma, Gatien Falconnier and Frédéric Baudron December 2023 The purpose of the Context Assessment is threefold: first, to characterize the environmental, social, and economic context of each Agroecological Living Landscape (ALL); second, to understand the data and information currently available in each ALL; third, to characterize the extent to which agroecological principles are already being employed in each ALL. The Context Assessment is not meant to be a quantitative baseline or an exhaustive report but rather a broad overview of the situation in each ALL. The data collected during the Context Assessment can be used during the visioning and assessment phases and is fundamental to describing the situation in each ALL and will inform the impact assessment. It will also be valuable to all other WPs as it will provide foundational data for their investigation. This report contributes to Output 2.1. Baseline – current conditions of agricultural systems of smallholder farmers in each ALL. The CGIAR initiative Transformational Agroecology across Food, Land, and Water Systems develops and scales agroecological innovations with small-scale farmers and other food system actors in seven low- and middle-income countries. It is one of 32 initiatives of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. www.cgiar.org/initiative/31-transformational-agroecology-across-food-land-and-water-systems/ http://www.cgiar.org/initiative/31-transformational-agroecology-across-food-land-and-water-systems/ Agroecological Living Landscapes: A Context Assessment in Murewa, Zimbabwe Vimbayi G. P. Chimonyo1 Telma Sibanda1 Dennis J. Choruma2 Gatien Falconnier3,4,5 Fréderic Baudron1 1 International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), 12.5 km Peg, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe 2 International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Southern Africa, 333 Grosvenor Road, Hatfield Gardens, Pretoria, 0018, South Africa 3 AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France 4 CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Harare, Zimbabwe 5 Department of Plant Production Sciences and Technologies, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe November 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 2 Contents Executive summary 4 Acronyms and abbreviations 6 Murewa District 8 Overview of the Agroecological Living Landscapes 9 Environmental context .................................................................. 9 Climate ......................................................................................... 9 Soils and landscape .................................................................. 11 Socioeconomic context .............................................................. 13 Political context ........................................................................... 13 Context Assessment for Agroecological Living Landscapes 14 Farming systems .......................................................................... 14 Recycling ...................................................................................... 14 Input reduction ............................................................................ 16 Soil health ..................................................................................... 18 Animal health ............................................................................... 18 Biodiversity ..................................................................................21 Synergy .........................................................................................21 Economic diversification ............................................................22 Social values and diets ................................................................22 Fairness .........................................................................................24 Connectivity .................................................................................26 Land and resources .....................................................................26 Participation .................................................................................28 Concluding remarks 30 References 32 Executive summary This report contributes to Output 2.1. Baseline – current conditions of agricultural systems of smallholder farmers in the identified Agroecological Living Landscape (ALL) and provides context to their current state. Therefore, the document is a Context Assessment report that is developed and maintained to ensure a thorough understanding of the operational context as well as that of the stakeholders and communities. This document is a living document and will continuously evolve. For Zimbabwe, the ALLs are at the district level, with two sub-ALLs at the ward level. The current Context Assessment is reported for Murewa, which is at the district level, and, where information is available, the wards where the nuclei ALLs have been established were given. We used gray literature from published articles, reports, and web pages as the main source of information. This information was validated with data collected during focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and meetings.  “ The key findings show that Murewa comprises mainly family farmers characterized as being resource-poor The key findings show that Murewa comprises mainly family farmers characterized as being resource-poor. The community is largely patriarchal, with chiefs and herdmen managing natural resources. The main production constraints include, but are not limited to, weather risks (droughts and floods) and low access to improved technologies. Many farmers participate in market gardening and produce tomatoes, onions, butternut, and cabbages. Their proximity to Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, improves access to markets, but the lack of proper postharvest handling decreases profits. Maize, groundnut, and sweet potatoes are the main field crops produced while farmers keep cattle, goats, pigs, and poultry. The main environmental hazards are soil erosion, gullies, and deforestation. Communities in Murewa have good access to diverse foods across the different food groups, most of which are sourced from home gardens. However, better food availability occurs from February to September, while the peak lean period is experienced by communities in January and from October to December. Findings from KIIs and FGDs across Murewa District revealed that several farmer groups and committees have been formed. Farmer groups are small and formed on their own initiative or through development agencies with specific objectives, such as strengthening food security and improving household income of group members. Many of the groups formed are not concerned about diversity but rather making a contribution to the group cause. December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 4 December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 5 Acronyms and abbreviations AARDS ................................................. Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services ALL .......................................... Agroecological Living Landscape APT ...............................................Agricultural Partnerships Trust APU ................................................................... Anti-Poaching Unit CIAT ........................................... International Center for Tropical Agriculture (now part of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT) CottCO........................................Cotton Company of Zimbabwe CTDO ......................................................Community Technology Development Organization DDC .......................................District Development Coordinator DVS ........................................Department of Veterinary Services ESC ........................................... Environmental Sub-Committees FGDs ........................................................ focus group discussions FSA ................................................................... food system actors GMB ........................................................... Grain Marketing Board KIIs .......................................................... key informant interviews LDC ......................................Livestock Development Committee NGOs ......................................... non-government organizations NTS .............................................................National Tested Seeds RDC .............................................................. Rural District Council RDDC ............................Rural District Development Committee VIDCO ..................................... Village Development Committee WADCO .....................................Ward Development Committee WP............................................................................. Work Package ZRP .......................................................Zimbabwe Republic Police December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 7 Murewa District This section puts Murewa in context. Murewa, also known as Murehwa or Mrewa, is 75 kilometers northeast of the capital, Harare, on the road to Tete (Mozambique). It is situated almost 1,400 m above sea level. The district of Murewa stretches from Mt. Hanwa (10 km north of Macheke) in the south up to Uzumba in the north, and the Nyadire River is northeast and the Nyagui River is southeast of Murewa (Figure 1). December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 8 Figure 1. Map showing Zimbabwe and where Murewa District is located. Source: (Lampard-Scotford et al., 2022a). Figure 2. Monthly weather characteristics of Murewa District. Source: https://tcktcktck.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-east/Murewa Environmental context Climate Murewa is in agroecological regions II and II, which receive an annual rainfall of from 650 to 1,000 mm in a unimodal pattern from November to April (Figure 2). Prolonged mid-season dry spells are common. The rainy season is characterized by insufficient rains, poor rain distribution, hailstorms, and mid- season dry spells. Communities in the district also experience increased flooding that has destroyed houses, crops, and livestock, as well as flash floods and extremely windy conditions that are destructive. According to participants in focus group discussions (FGDs), “The rainy season used to start in October, and there were fewer short mid-season dry spells. Now, summers are hotter, winters are warmer, and hailstorms are frequent and severe.” Even though the district’s rainfall pattern has always exhibited spatial and temporal variability, the timing and amount of rainfall received are becoming increasingly uncertain (Munjengwa et al., 2012). Zimbabwe has had an overall decline of nearly 5% in rainfall during the last century (UNDP, 2017) Contrary to these findings, Chikodzi & Mufori, (2018a) observed a slight increase in seasonal rainfall. However, they noted that the distribution within and between seasons is uneven. December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 9 Overview of the Agroecological Living Landscapes Figure 3. Projected change in temperature and precipitation in Zimbabwe by 2050. Source: World Bank, CCAFS, CIAT (2018). There have been an increased number of years with below- normal rainfall since 1980 and increases in the intensity of mid-season dry spells and/or droughts occurring back-to- back in the same season. In addition, the longest dry spell was recorded in 2021 and it lasted for 31 days. Zimbabwe is also experiencing an increased frequency of flooding.  “ The country’s mean ambient surface temperature since 1933 has shown changes in net warming of +0.3 to 0.6 °C (Unganai, 1996) Temperature extremes are also being experienced in Murewa. Very cold winters with frost that have greatly affected banana production have been experienced, as well as high maximum temperatures of 42 °C (Manjengwa et al., 2014). Temperature data from the CGSpace (Zimbabwe profile document) showed that there are hotter and fewer cold days than before. The country’s mean ambient surface temperature since 1933 has shown changes in net warming of +0.3 to 0.6 °C (Unganai, 1996). These changes have an impact on cropping seasons and hence food security and nutrition. In Mashonaland East, where Murewa is situated, projections up to 2070 indicate that average temperatures are expected to increase by up to 2.1% (Figure 3). Drought vulnerability varies substantially across the country (Figure 4). In this instance, we define drought vulnerability as the degree of susceptibility of a region to drought, which can be represented by relevant factors comprising exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity (Saha et al., 2023; Tripathy et al., 2021). Low levels are particularly observed in far-east regions. Regions with high vulnerability scores include much of the southwest of the country. The Murewa area has moderately high drought vulnerability (Frischen et al., 2020). December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 10 Figure 4. Drought vulnerability in Zimbabwe. Classification scheme: natural breaks between 0.001 and 0.488 to better represent the spatial variance of vulnerability. Source: (Frischen et al., 2020). Soils and landscape The soils in Murewa District are predominantly granitic sandy soils of low inherent fertility and classified as Lixisols (Zingore et al., 2011). Farmers in Murewa District highlighted that “70% of soils in Murewa are sandy soils, and the remaining 30% are clay patches. However, rich soils are being eroded due to reduced vegetation cover caused by an overpopulation of humans and livestock.” Because of increased population pressure, Murewa District has observed an accelerated and indiscriminate cutting down of trees. The cutting down of trees coupled with stream bank cultivation has led to the siltation of major rivers in the district. In 2010, Murewa had 1.19 kha of tree cover, extending over 0.34% of its land area; in 2021, it lost 4.25 ha of tree cover, equivalent to 1.48 kt of CO2 emissions (www. globalforestwatch.org). There is thus a need to improve vegetation cover, especially in the woodland ecosystem, through enrichment planting, woodlot establishment, and construction of fuel-saving stoves. Wetland loss and fragmentation are among the district’s greatest threats to water resources. The wetland size in 2010 was 17.38 ha, and it was noted that it had shrunk by 11.69% by 2014, which translates to an average of 2.92% decrease annually (Chikodzi & Mufori, 2018). Chikodzi & Mufori (2018) attributed the result to impacts from anthropogenic drivers such as deforestation, open grazing, marginal cultivation, and sand mining. While slight increases occurred in total seasonal rainfall, the distribution within and between seasons was uneven (UNDP, 2017). Rainfall pattern was also identified as a key driver of wetland fragmentation, soil type and condition, vegetation, and slope (Chikodzi & Mufori, 2018). Murewa has three major rivers: Hunyani, Angwa, and Musengezi. During the FGDs, it was reported that “Angwa River is being greatly affected by siltation and its capacity has largely decreased over the years, causing it to only have water in summer and dry up in winter in some areas along its course. Smaller rivers such as Dande, Mururuzi, Shange, Hambe, and Nyakambiri only have water in the rainy season. Riverbank cultivation is very prominent in both wards, which causes soil erosion and results in siltation. Perennial rivers are not accessible to everyone due to distance.” Murewa also has plenty of gullies. Communities through Village Development Committees (VIDCOs) are responsible for reclamation of the gullies. The villagers usually carry out gully-filling-up exercises every Friday. The food-for-work program prompted some people to fill up the gullies and the situation improved a little. However, there is a projected increase in gullies due to gold-panning activities in the area. December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 11 http://www.globalforestwatch.org http://www.globalforestwatch.org December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 12 Socioeconomic context According to family sizes in Murewa range from 3 to 12, and the average family size is 5.19. Women outnumber men owing to men leaving the area searching for work in Harare, the capital city. Polygamy is practiced by some community members, more so in religious sects, with the husband providing for the whole family and the wives mainly working on farms. Extended families are also highly regarded, with responsibility for older family members being undertaken by the younger members. Biparental families are also found, and single-parent families are found in smaller numbers. Muhoyi et al. (2014a) showed that household size, farmland size, farmland quality, availability of draft power, and climatic adaptation had a significant impact on the food security status of households. Household size was found to have a negative relationship with food security, while the other four variables positively affected food security. Gender, age, education, and employment status of the household head and fertilizer application by the household were found to be statistically insignificant in determining the food security status of households (Table 1). Clinics, schools, and hospitals are few. In Murewa District, a substantial proportion of the population had no or only limited access to a first-line health facility able to provide comprehensive, integrated, and continuous care. The catchment populations using health centers ranged from 3,000 to 12,000, the maximum distance by road to the health center varied from 8.5 to 16 km, and the surface area covered varied from 32 to 200 km. Farmers in Murewa own small farms (1–3 ha) and continuously cultivate them (Masvaya et al., 2010a).  “ Agriculture is the backbone of the district’s economy, and most community members derive their livelihood from agriculture and other related rural economic activities Agriculture is the backbone of the district’s economy, and most community members derive their livelihood from agriculture and other related rural economic activities. Although agriculture is a common source of livelihood, the level of agricultural dependency and its importance to overall household income and food security are decreasing (ZimVac, 2021). This is because of the challenges facing smallholder farmers, such as low and erratic rainfall, low and declining soil fertility, low investment, shortages of farm power (labor and draft animals), and poor physical and institutional infrastructure. The political and economic instability in the country has exacerbated conditions, making farming difficult. This has forced people to engage in non-agricultural livelihoods such as salaried jobs, cross-border trading, migration, and casual labor to ensure food security. Political context Polarization of the national political landscape in Zimbabwe occurred following the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in 1999. Local governance is along a political party dimension, directly linking local resource management to national politics. Chiefs and headmen in local governance are important in the governance of the community. According to the Traditional Leaders Act (Chap. 29:17), which has been realigned with the new constitution, a village head (VH) is nominated by a headman; approved by the area chief; appointed by the secretary of Local Government, Public Works, and National Housing; and receives an allowance from the Rural District Council. His role is to assist the chief and headman of the area in doing their lawful work, mainly to preserve the extended family, promote traditional family life, and prevent unauthorized settlement while authorizing new settlers in a clearly defined village. The village, in this context, is the smallest unit of community organization above the family unit and is central to all development activities in rural areas. Table 1: Socioeconomic context of Murewa. Murewa (no./%) Age of household head Average age per household Female household head Household size Dependency ratio Number of male adults Number of female adults Number of children Farming (crop and livestock) Salaried employment Self-employed Casual farm worker Casual non-farm worker Unpaid household work Total farm size cultivated (ha) Total own cultivated land (ha) Total landholding (ha) N 55.53 29.91 39.60 5.19 117.21 1.25 1.53 2.34 82.55 6.04 4.03 2.68 2.01 0.00 1.72 1.24 2.21 149 December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 13 Context Assessment for Agroecological Living Landscapes Farming systems Baudron et al. (2022a) classified communities in Murewa into four types: { Type 1: medium-sized farms (in terms of cultivated area and livestock), own production as the main source of food, main source of income off-farm (but also the type with the highest number of farms depending on livestock sales), and intermediate food security. { Type 2: medium-sized farms (in terms of cultivated area), small livestock herd, own production not the main source of food, main source of income off-farm (casual labor in particular), and intermediate food security. { Type 3: dominance of female-headed households, smallest farms (in terms of cultivated area and livestock), own production as the main source of food, crop sales as the main source of income, and lowest food security. { Type 4: largest farms (in terms of cultivated area and livestock), own production as the main source of food, crop sales as the main source of income, highest food security, and the main livelihood strategies evolve around agriculture. The determining features for these typologies are land cultivated, livestock, and food source. A study conducted by Pindiriri et al. (2021) during the 2016– 2017 cropping season revealed that 14% of the plots are under free seed and, according to ZimVac (2021), 49% of the households used certified seeds. Recycling In Murewa, the main sources of water are protected wells, followed by boreholes, unprotected wells, and piped water (Makokove et al., 2022; Mudombi & Muchie, 2013). Rivers and ponds are mainly used for livestock (Makokove et al., 2022; Mudombi & Muchie, 2013). Crop production mainly depends on rainfall, while farmers mentioned using protected or unprotected wells for their gardens (Mudombi & Muchie, 2013). According to Mudombi & Muchie (2013), many individuals within Murewa experience water shortages, especially for livestock during the drier season (June to October). In terms of water saving, Nyamwanza, (2018) and Baudron et al. (2022) pointed out that different forms of in situ rainwater harvesting (RWH) methods are being employed. These include digging Zai pits (planting pits, planting basins, micro-pits, or small water-harvesting pits), mulching, and contouring. An evaluation for an eco-training conducted in Murewa by Chikukwa Ecological Land Use Community Trust (CELUCT) revealed that farmers had adopted and established water-harvesting schemes and compost heaps from crop residues that could have been burned (https://bit. ly/3GN9QQA). However, for household use, FGD participants mentioned that they did not practice ex situ RWH.  “ According to Mudombi & Muchie (2013), many individuals within Murewa experience water shortages, especially for livestock during the drier season (June to October) Considerable recycling of biomass also occurs in the area, mostly in the form of using crop residues for mulching and livestock feeding. Although the use of mulch has been reported, the FGD participants stated that most of the plant residue is often consumed by livestock during the dry season. Postharvest crop residues (sometimes called stovers) are a secondary but important nutrition source for ruminants. The main source of crop residue is maize, but biomass yields are usually too low to produce significant excess residue for feed and mulching (Tavirimirwa et al., 2019). In some instances, these residues are spread within the kraals (enclosures), and farmers regard this as an important management practice that helps keep kraals dry. The practice also increases the amount of manure and prevents excessive loss of nutrients such as nitrogen. According to Baudron et al. (2022), sampled farmers (n = 306) in Murewa use about 50 kg of inorganic fertilizer. The ZimVAC 2021 report indicated that 45% of the households in Murewa were using manure. Baudron et al. (2022) quantified the use and indicated that, on average, 922.02 kg and 365 kg/ha of manure are used in the fields. Masvaya et al. (2010) indicated that wealthy farmers used more manure because they had access to livestock, whereas poor farmers applied less manure because they didn’t have access to livestock. Nitrogen-fixing green manure cover crops such as velvet beans, lablab, and jack beans have been introduced to improve soil fertility. December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 14 https://bit.ly/3GN9QQA https://bit.ly/3GN9QQA December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 15 Renewable energy use in Murewa is mostly based on biogas generation from latrine waste and pigsties, with Murewa mission as a pilot with a 20-m3 biodigester. The biogas digester is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and sustainable. As waste is reused, it produces renewable energy, thus decreasing deforestation for firewood due to electricity shortages. Oxfam has been working with smallholder farmers, mostly women, to strengthen farmer seed systems in Murewa through their community seed-banking, seed and food fairs, and farmer field school programs (OXFAM, 2016). Details of management of breeds in the area were not readily available in the literature. Recycling biomass and nutrients is essential for promoting sustainable agriculture and diminishing waste in Zimbabwe’s rural and peri-urban agricultural areas. Priority innovations in Murewa could focus on the following: 1. Biogas production involves the anaerobic digestion of organic waste to produce a renewable source of energy and a nutrient-rich fertilizer. This can help to promote sustainable agriculture by decreasing waste, providing a source of energy, and promoting soil fertility. 2. Nutrient cycling through agroforestry: Agroforestry involves integrating trees into agricultural landscapes. Trees can be used to cycle nutrients and improve soil fertility. For example, nitrogen-fixing trees can be used to enhance soil nitrogen content and improve crop productivity. 3. Integrated livestock and crop systems: These systems can help to recycle nutrients between the two systems. For example, livestock manure can be used to fertilize crops and crop residues can be used to feed livestock. This can help to promote sustainable agriculture and decrease waste. Input reduction There is a significant relationship between the quantity of manure applied and resource endowment, with wealthy farmers applying more manure (3.5–9.0 t/ha) to their fields than intermediate farmers (applying up to 1.5 t/ha) and resource-constrained farmers (applying less than 1 t/ha) (Masvaya et al., 2017a, 2017b). Studies by Mujeyi et al. (2021a, 2022a) showed that 21.6% of the sample population used manure, and the ZimVAC 2021 report asserted that 45% of the households used organic fertilizer or compost. According to (Dury, 2007) farmers in Murewa have five strategies for crop residue management: Strategy 1: They collect it directly and store it for the kraal, and they use it for bedding, composting, and feeding. Strategy 2: They collect it, directly place it in the kraal, and use it for bedding and compost. Strategy 3: They collect it and use it for compost or mulching in the garden. Strategy 4: They use it for winter ploughing or burn it. Strategy 5: They have no practices. December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 16 December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 17 Mujeyi et al. (2020) asserted that, during the 2017–2018 cropping season, 5.2% (n = 153) of the sampled population used mulching as a water-saving technique. The ZimVAC 2021 report showed that 50% of the households in Murewa were using mulching, 3.2% were practicing watershed management, and 22% owned solar-powered water sources (ZimVAC, 2021). Again, according to the ZimVAC database, 4% of the sampled households owned motorized water pumps and 2.8% owned mechanical water pumps. ZimVAC (2021) revealed that 14% of the households were aware of drip irrigation; however, only 3% of the households had used it, and the district had no irrigation schemes. A total of 2.8% owned tractors, 0.4% owned 2-wheel tractors, 48% of the households practiced pfumvudza, and 3% owned farming equipment. Agricultural innovations are needed in Murewa to help to promote biomass and nutrient recycling in Zimbabwe’s rural and peri-urban agricultural areas, decrease waste, promote sustainable agriculture, and enhance soil fertility. Some of the priority innovations could involve the following: 1. Precision agriculture Precision agriculture involves the use of technology such as remote sensing, GPS, and variable rate application to optimize the use of inputs such as fertilizer and water. This can help to decrease input use while maintaining or improving crop yields. 2. Farmer-led research and innovation Empowering farmers to develop and implement their own solutions to input reduction can help to promote sustainable agriculture. This can include supporting farmer-led research and innovation, promoting farmer- to-farmer extension services, and creating spaces for farmer-led experimentation and learning. Soil health According to the farmers who participated in the FGD, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) has encouraged farmers to embrace sustainable farming systems, benefiting from higher yields, new sources of income, and improved soil fertility. The crop-livestock integration initiative taught farmers conservation agriculture practices such as minimum tillage using direct seeding, crop rotation, mulching, weeding, intercropping, and crop rotation with legumes such as soybean, pigeon pea, and velvet beans. The use of green manure cover crops such as velvet beans, lablab, and jack beans can provide a cheaper way for smallholder farmers to manage organic matter, enhance soil biological activity, and bring back soil fertility by adding nitrogen into the soil and thus making soils responsive to mineral fertilizer again. Masvaya et al. (2010) asserted that other nutrient resources used in Murewa were compost, leaf litter, and anthill soil, and these were targeted to homefields. AGRITEX extension officers indicated that “only 5% of the farmers send their soil samples for testing as most cannot afford it. However, AGRITEX sometimes offers free soil testing to encourage farmers to do this often.” The Chivake Gully Reclamation Project was implemented in Murewa. The reclamation of Chivake gully involved community members installing 25 gabions (baskets/cages). During the FGD, farmers in Murewa indicated that there were plenty of gullies in Murewa, and communities, through the Village Development Committee (VIDCO), are responsible for the reclamation of the gullies: “The villagers usually carry out the gully-filling-up exercises on Fridays, which are their resting days. The food-for-work program prompted some people to fill up the gullies, and the situation improved slightly. However, there is a projected increase in gullies due to gold-panning activities in the area. Non-conservative farming methods, such as using tractors and ploughs, also contribute to the erosion of fertile topsoil. However, fruits are now being grown in lands that have pit sands dominating as a way of reclaiming the soils.” Animal health In Murewa, pure breeds are seldom found, as farmers do not have a clear breeding strategy pursuing this objective. All animals were crossbreds and were separated into breeding groups based on their main traits. Mashona is the traditional breed in this part of Zimbabwe and was found in higher numbers than the other breeds. The Mashona breed is popular in the area because of its hardiness, resilience, and high productivity in milk, meat, and tillage. The Africander breed was the second most common, whereas Brahman and Tuli are also present but in smaller numbers.  “ The Mashona breed is popular in the area because of its hardiness, resilience, and high productivity in milk, meat, and tillage Rainfall is thought to be a more important determinant of grass production and species composition than stocking rate (Behnke & Scoones, 1992). Nevertheless, high stocking rates sustained for long periods introduce more variability in the grass strata characteristics within the range defined by abiotic factors (Illius & O’Connor, 1999). The dominance of grasses such as Sporobolus pyramidalis and Hyparrhenia dissoluta was used as an indicator to distinguish between over- and undergrazed areas, respectively (Van Oudtshoorn, 1999). FAO in Zimbabwe worked with extension officers from the Government’s Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to collect farm-level data on antimicrobial use and develop an economic case within the broiler value chain while promoting good animal husbandry practices. This was done to decrease December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 18 antimicrobial use in the broiler value chain (https://www.amr- insights.eu/). The intervention supported poultry farmers in Murewa. Smallholder farmers in Murewa have also teamed up to confront the impacts of climate change by taking up the innovation platform approach (in the ZimCLIFS project), which has introduced high-protein, drought-tolerant legume fodder crops such as velvet bean (Mucuna) as a solution for marketing livestock, thus benefiting 60,000 farmers. In Ward 4, most farmers produce their feed using Mucuna and lablab, and, in Ward 27, only a few farmers are doing this. All farmers supplement their feed with cattle stover. Amblyomma is now present in most parts of Murewa District, and is more pronounced in the southern parts (Dhliwayo & Matondi, 2012). Amblyomma is associated with heartwater and dermatophilosis in cattle, goats, and sheep (Jongejan et al., 2020). Periodic surveillance and monitoring are being done to decrease the spread of ticks into the current free areas. However, challenges in the dipping program have exacerbated the presence of Amblyomma. It is also possible that the Amblyomma tick might have mutated for it to cope with Highveld conditions; as a result, further studies are recommended to establish why and how the tick is coping with Highveld conditions (Dhliwayo & Matondi, 2012). According to the ZimVac (2021) report, January disease (Theileriosis), a disease for cattle transmitted by ticks, outbreaks were highly concentrated in Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East (where Murewa is located), and Manicaland. To improve animal health and welfare, the communities have increased the number of times they dip their cattle because of the January disease outbreak. Stakeholders and farmers indicated that most cattle died due to January disease. Farmers could not afford the chemicals to treat January disease, and most did not want to sell their cattle. Communal dips have fluctuating concentrations of chemicals on different days, with some days having insufficient chemical concentrations to destroy ticks. However, farmers have now invested in personal acaricides in addition to taking their cattle to the communal dip. December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 19 https://www.amr-insights.eu/ https://www.amr-insights.eu/ December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 20 Biodiversity The natural vegetation in Murewa is Miombo woodland dominated by Brachystegia spp. and Julbernardia spp. (Rufino et al., 2011). The grass cover in the woodland is dominated by species of the genus Hyparrhenia and is therefore termed Hyparrhenia-veld type (Rufino et al., 2011). Andropogon, Digitaria, and Heteropogon spp. are also common, especially where tree density is high (Rufino et al., 2011). Sporobolus pyramidalis dominates where grazing intensity is relatively high and in the wet vlei area (Rufino et al., 2011). During the FGD, farmers indicated that “trees had been chopped off for firewood, for use as garden fences, for making bricks, and for use in tobacco barns. The remaining bushes and other vegetation have been overgrazed. Wetlands have been cultivated due to a decrease in rainfall amounts and changes in rainfall patterns, thus drying them up and leaving a few wetlands in wards 4 and 27. Much wildlife is now not found in Murewa due to the urbanization of the area, which prompts the cutting down of trees and the erection of buildings in forests that were previously animal habitats. Animals such as lions and leopards are now very few to none in the area.”  “ Animals such as lions and leopards are now very few to none in the area The district’s primary economic activity is agriculture. The main portion of all households’ cultivated land is used for the staple crop, maize, which also provides most of their income from farming. To increase nutritional functional diversity, the cultivation of groundnuts, sunflowers, and various vegetables is also a common practice. Most households try to cultivate vegetables all year long, frequently employing irrigation pond water in the dry season. Common farm animals are cattle, goats, and poultry. Improving biodiversity in Murewa is essential for promoting sustainable agriculture, enhancing ecosystem services, and building resilience to climate change. Key innovations for improving biodiversity in Murewa are the following: 1. Community-based conservation: This involves engaging local communities in the conservation of natural resources, including biodiversity. This can involve the establishment of community-managed conservation areas, the promotion of sustainable resource use, and the integration of traditional ecological knowledge. 2. Conservation of pollinators: Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds are essential for the pollination of crops and the maintenance of biodiversity. Innovations for conserving pollinators are the creation of habitat, the use of appropriate agrochemicals, and the promotion of diverse cropping systems. 3. Agroforestry: Agroforestry involves integrating trees and shrubs with crops and livestock. This can help to improve soil health, provide habitat for biodiversity, and promote carbon sequestration. Synergy Dunjana et al., (2012b) noted that the farming system in Murewa exhibited much interaction between crop and livestock production. Livestock provide draft power for cropping and manure for soil fertility improvement, while crop residues provide an important source of feed for livestock during the dry season when natural grazing is scarce and of low quality (Dunjana et al., 2012). Cattle constitute the main livestock, although some farmers own goats and donkeys (Mupangwa et al., 2016; Mutsamba et al., 2020). The fields are individually cropped but are communally grazed during the dry season. Farmers and stakeholders during the FGD pinpointed that, in Ward 4, farming is integrated and has synergistic cycles in most cases. In an illustration by farmer Ben-Ben, the farmers grow fruit trees next to their kraals. Some crops (e.g., tomatoes) are grown between the trees, and manure from the cattle is used as fertilizer with little labor required because of the proximity. Watering the tomatoes also ensures that trees, which provide fruits for the family, benefit from the watering. Leaf litter is used for mulching vegetable gardens. In the field, Mucuna, lablab, and maize stover are used as mulch and livestock feed. Farmers in the district indicated that they used maize stover as mulch and practiced conservation agriculture on five plots through pfumvudza1. Boreholes and wells are used for irrigation.  “ Some crops (e.g., tomatoes) are grown between the trees, and manure from the cattle is used as fertilizer with little labor required because of the proximity 1 https://foundationsforfarming.org/pfumvudza/ December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 21 https://foundationsforfarming.org/pfumvudza/ Economic diversification According to Tamburirio & Dorah (2020), many households within the rural community of the district are engaged in agricultural activities as a way of living. During the FGD, the most common strategies mentioned were selling maize grain, market gardening (horticulture), and medium and small livestock (Table 2). According to Cairns et al. (2022), casual labor and market gardening were the dominant sources of livelihood for the communities in Murewa. Households were also active in non-farm-based livelihood options such as general trading, cross-border trading, and brick molding, and these were more prominent during the off-peak farming season, which starts in June and ends in October (Tamburirio & Dorah, 2020). The marketing window for field crop sales is normally from June to September; therefore, the proportion of households engaged in field crop sales was expected to peak during June but was not consistent. Social values and diets According to Muhoyi et al. (2014), only 33% (n = 117) of the sampled female-headed households in Murewa were food insecure; male-headed households had a higher proportion of 55%. Households dependent on agriculture had a higher prevalence of food insecurity (53%) than those employed outside agriculture (41%). Muhoyi et al. (2014) also found that, although 69% of the households owned good fertile land, more than half of them were food insecure. This would suggest that soil quality alone does not guarantee food security. Then again, Muhoyi et al. (2014) noted that many sampled households with sandy soils were food-insecure. It was interesting to note that, of the 70% of the households that adopted conservation agriculture, 63% were food-secure (Muhoyi et al., 2014). Maize is the most important food crop, and this aligns with it being the cereal staple in Zimbabwe. Results from the FGD exercise showed that different types of meat are available at any time. However, when asked about the frequency of consumption, stakeholders in the FGD stated that they consume meat at least twice a month. Livestock were kept and sold for basics and to pay important bills, especially during the lean months (August to December). Leafy vegetables were more available during the peak of the rainy season (January to April), whereas, for legumes, it was from March to July (Table 3). Several initiatives have been launched in Murewa to address problems of food insecurity. For instance, the Food and Nutrition Security Policy under the Livelihoods and Food Security Program was launched to address food and nutrition security. CIMMYT has various projects in the district that aim at overcoming malnutrition with biofortified maize in Zimbabwe: from crop management to policy and consumers. The CREATE Program on Agricultural Productivity, Income, and Food Security in Zimbabwe provides smallholder farmer funding to improve these farmers’ income and food and nutrition security, among other things. Table 2: Economic activities identified and ranked by farmers and stakeholders during the focus group discussion RankingActivity Maize production Horticulture Medium and small livestock Non-timber forest products Fruit production Skilled trade Groundnut production Brewing and selling alcohol Petty trade Internal savings and lendings (ISALs) Tobacco Large livestock Cross-border trading Gold panning Aquaculture 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 22 Table 3: Food calendar suggested by farmers and stakeholders during the focus group discussions. MonthsFood Cereals Rice Green mealies Sorghum Millet Maize meal Rapoko (finger millet) Wheat Vegetables Cabbage African spider flower leaves (nyevhe) Pumpkin leaves Cowpea leaves Okra Tomatoes Onions Carrots Covo/rape Pumpkins Butternuts Amaranthus Fruits Snot apple (matohwe) Bananas Pawpaw Mango Wild loquat fruit (mazhanje) Smelly-berry fingerleaf (tsubvu) Monkey orange (matamba) Watermelon Guava Waterberry (hute) False wild medlar fruits (matufu) Nartjie (tangerine) Avocado Dairy, meat, and poultry Beef Fish Guinea fowl Roadrunner Turkey Duck Broiler Dried kapenta Mopane worms Eggs Milk Goat meat Pork Legumes Sugar beans Round nuts Cowpeas Soya beans Groundnuts Green beans Roots and tubers Sweet potatoes Yam (madhumbe) Potatoes Jan 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 Jan 1 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 3 3 2 3 Jan 0 2 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 2 Jan 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Jan 1 0 1 1 0 0 Jan 1 0 1 Feb 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 Feb 1 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 Feb 0 2 2 3 2 0 0 0 1 2 3 0 2 Feb 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Feb 2 0 2 2 2 2 Feb 1 0 1 Mar 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 Mar 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 Mar 0 2 2 3 0 0 0 3 2 0 3 0 1 Mar 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Mar 3 0 3 3 3 2 Mar 1 0 1 Apr 2 3 0 1 3 0 0 Apr 2 2 3 3 3 3 1 2 3 3 3 2 Apr 0 2 3 2 0 3 0 3 2 0 2 0 1 Apr 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Apr 3 3 3 3 3 3 Apr 1 0 1 May 3 3 0 2 3 2 0 May 2 2 3 1 3 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 May 0 3 3 1 0 3 0 3 3 0 0 3 2 May 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 May 3 3 3 3 3 3 May 2 0 1 Jun 2 3 3 2 3 2 0 Jun 3 1 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 Jun 0 3 2 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 2 Jun 3 1 3 3 3 2 3 2 1 3 3 3 2 Jun 2 3 3 3 3 2 Jun 2 1 1 Jul 0 2 3 2 3 2 0 Jul 3 1 1 1 2 3 3 2 3 1 1 1 Jul 3 3 2 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 3 1 Jul 3 1 3 3 3 2 3 2 1 3 3 3 2 Jul 1 2 3 2 3 2 Jul 3 2 1 Aug 0 1 3 2 3 0 0 Aug 3 1 1 1 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 Aug 3 3 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Aug 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 1 3 3 3 2 Aug 1 1 2 2 2 1 Aug 3 3 1 Sept 0 1 3 0 3 0 3 Sept 2 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 Sept 3 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 Sept 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 Sept 0 0 0 2 2 1 Sept 3 2 2 Oct 0 2 2 0 3 0 3 Oct 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 Oct 2 3 1 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 Oct 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 Oct 0 0 0 2 0 0 Oct 1 1 3 Nov 0 2 2 0 3 0 3 Nov 1 2 2 1 2 1 3 1 3 2 2 2 Nov 0 3 1 0 3 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 3 Nov 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 Nov 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nov 0 0 3 Dec 0 2 2 0 3 0 0 Dec 1 2 2 3 3 1 2 1 3 2 2 3 Dec 0 3 2 2 3 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 Dec 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 Dec 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dec 0 0 3 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 23 Fairness Work done by Work Package 3 of this Agroecology Initiative has mapped the value chain actors for 10 crop and livestock commodities: sorghum, tobacco, maize, groundnut, sweet potato, vegetables (tomato and onion), cattle, goats, and poultry. Most of the crop and livestock commodities are channelled to the main markets in Harare. The Grain Market Board (GMB) is the major actor in maize marketing in both wards. Groundnut, sweet potato, and horticultural produce are sold to both rural and urban markets. Goats and cattle are mostly supplied to the Harare market by middlemen collecting livestock from village markets and moving door- to-door to buy enough quantity to transport to Harare. Below, we summarize the main attributes of the core value chains in Murewa (Figure 5). Maize Nearly all farmers produce maize. Production is supported through the presidential free-input initiative, but farmers supplement the 5 kg of seed and 50 kg each for basal and topdressing chemical fertilizer provided under the free- input programs. Farmers buy additional seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Most farmers grow hybrid maize seeds in the district. Men and women in the household participate in maize production and have a stake in maize grain marketing. Farmers mainly sell their maize produce to the GMB directly or through middlemen. At the farm gate, maize fetches about USD 0.15/kg. Groundnut Groundnuts are a common crop produced by nearly all the 2,043 households in Ward 4 and 2,730 in Ward 27 of Murewa District. However, only about 25% of the households produce enough to sell (Figure 6). All farmers mainly use recycled or local groundnut seed. Inputs are readily available in sufficient quantities in the district, except for improved groundnut seed. Farmers mentioned that there is scope to increase the use of improved groundnut seed for improved productivity. However, the rising costs of seed and other production inputs was mentioned by FGD participants as a concern for profitable production. There is a need for awareness raising and demand creation for improved groundnut seed in the district. Farmers indicated that, if there is access to improved seed, they are willing to buy it and produce what buyers demand. Although it is often believed that groundnut production is for women, the FGD carried out by WP 3 indicated joint decisions on production and marketing arrangements. The main buyers of groundnut are private processors, and they are often from within the wards and district. Other farmers prefer to process their groundnuts into peanut butter, later sold in distant markets such as Harare and Marondera. At the farm gate, groundnut will go for USD 0.25/kg, while a jar of peanut butter (400 g) will go for the same amount within the wards and USD 0.50 when marketed in Harare and Marondera. Figure 5. Maize value chain (Murewa, Zimbabwe). Processing Food Grain Reserve Consumption Local consumers Livestock feed processors (Irvines), National Foods Production Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Farmers Local aggregators Trading Input Input suppliers (providers), presidential input schemes, Farm and City, Windmill, Siyawayamwawa, Farmshop En ab lin g e nv ir o nm en t: g ra in q ua lit y, p o lic y o n g ra in m o ve m en t, b an ks , e tc . Safety net program December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 24 Sweet potato Nearly all farmers in Ward 4 and 27 of Murewa District produce sweet potatoes; however, very few produce them for the market. According to the FGD held by WP 3, men and women in the household jointly participate in the production and make decisions. Sweet potatoes are regarded as a low- input crop. In many instances, planting materials that farmers use are recycled vines. Zimbabwe recently launched a new variety of sweet potato set to improve the country’s nutrition. The Department of Research and Specialist Services (DR&SS) under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Resettlement, supported by FAO under the Zimbabwe Livelihoods and Food Security Program (LSFP), with funding from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), partnered with Harvest Plus to promote the increased production of vitamin A-rich, orange-fleshed sweet potato varieties by smallholder farmers. Community Technology Development Organization (CTDO) brought in a few vines of the orange variety for farmers (www.ccardesa. org/zimbabwe-launches-biofortified-sweet-potato-variety), mainly private buyers within the wards. Some farmers in Ward 4 sell in Harare, while those in Ward 27 sell in Marondera. The sweet potatoes are mostly sold to middlemen (who come to the villages to buy) and to fellow farmers (Figure 7). Some farmers sell in large markets in Harare and Marondera. Sweet potato fetches about USD 0.25/kg. Figure 6. Groundnut value chain (Murewa, Zimbabwe). Figure 7. Sweet potato value chain (Murewa, Zimbabwe). Distribution Urban consumersConsumption Rural consumers Retailers Production Local assemblers Farmers Trading Input Inputs (gypsum, seeds): Farm & City, Agrifoods, Siyawamwaya E na b lin g e nv ir o nm en t Distribution Urban consumersConsumption Rural consumers Retailers Production Local assemblers Farmers Trading Input Inputs (vines): CTDO, Grasslands Research Station E na b lin g e nv ir o nm en t December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 25 http://www.ccardesa.org/zimbabwe-launches-biofortified-sweet-potato-variety http://www.ccardesa.org/zimbabwe-launches-biofortified-sweet-potato-variety Goats According to the report made by WP 3, farmers can buy improved breeds from Chivhu at Zvikomborero farm, and there is also an initiative to provide farmers with improved goats through the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Program’s Value Chain Alliance for Livestock Upgrading and Empowerment (VALUE), in which they source their goats from Zvikomborero farm, which also supplies improved goat breeds to farmers (Figure 8). Zvikomborero farm also supplies Boer goats. In addition to conventional pen fattening that involves inorganic supplementary feed purchased in shops, communities in Murewa use homemade pen fattening from organic crop residues. The improved goat breeds, especially the Boer goats, are not browsers. So, supplying them with purchased feed is important. Farmers barter goats for pesticides, herbicides, household supplies, or clothes. Goats are bought at USD 15–20 from Murewa. Figure 8. Goat value chain (Murewa, Zimbabwe). Processing Urban consumersConsumption Rural consumers Butchers/Abattoirs in Harare Production Local aggregators Smallholder farmers Trader in Harare Assembling Input Input suppliers (Breeds from Zvikomborero Farm, Action-Aid, feed from shops) R eg ul at o ry b o d ie s: P o lic e D ep ar tm en t, V et er in ar y D ep ar tm en t. Small farmers To improve fairness in natural resource use in Murewa, priority innovations could involve the following: 1. Participatory land-use planning: This involves engaging local communities in the planning and management of natural resources, including land, water, and forests. This can help to ensure equitable access to resources, promote sustainable land use, and diminish conflicts. 2. Value chain development: This involves promoting linkages between small-scale farmers and markets and supporting local agribusiness development. This can help to improve market access, enhance income, and promote social equity. 3. Gender-sensitive approaches: These involve recognizing and addressing gender inequalities in rural agricultural areas, such as access to resources, participation in decision-making, and control over income. This can help to promote social equity and decrease poverty. 4. Farmer-to-farmer extension: This involves the use of local farmers as extension agents, who can provide advice and support to other farmers. This can help to build local capacity, promote knowledge exchange, and enhance social equity. Connectivity The Zimbabwe smallholder agricultural cluster project connects farmer groups to profitable venture capital. Cassava Smartech hosted the Murewa Eco-farmer Expo event, taking farming to the next level by creating a platform for farmers to reach out to various stakeholders and markets previously not within their reach. Land and resources Freehold and leasehold types of tenure systems are predominant in Murewa. Under freehold, communal or customary systems are the most common. Communal lands are an inheritance of the colonial system of marginalizing black indigenous farmers to the periphery of economic activities. Most of these communal lands are located in natural regions III to V, known for high temperatures, low rainfall, and poor agricultural activities. The dominant economic activity is subsistence and small-scale farming. The land area varies from as small as 0.1 ha to less than 2 ha (Matondi & Dekker, 2011). The majority of the inhabitants in Murewa fall under communal holding. Zimbabwe’s Fast-Track Land Reform Program (FTLRP) formally began with the Land Acquisition Act of 2002. The FTLRP, which effectively co-opted the farm December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 26 December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 27 2 http://www.vungurdc.org.zw/RDDC.html 3 https://swm-programme.info/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=19c4a770-e252-7c1c-431d-aec12065a0c4&groupId=20142 4 Higgins K M; Mazula A. 1993. Community development: a national strategy in Zimbabwe. Community Development Journal 28 (1), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/28.1.19 5 https://swm-programme.info/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=19c4a770-e252-7c1c-431d-aec12065a0c4&groupId=20142 occupations since 1998, redistributed land from white- owned farms and estates and state lands to more than 150,000 farmers under two models, A1 and A2. The A1 model allocated small plots for growing crops and grazing land to landless and poor farmers, while the A2 model allocated farms to new black commercial farmers with the skills and resources to farm profitably, reinvest, and raise agricultural productivity. The FTLRP has shifted land tenure systems from private landholdings to state land. Land redistribution also significantly changed land rights, access rights, and their administration. There is, however, uncertainty surrounding the form and security of tenure in both A1 and A2 schemes. In the new resettlement areas, the tenure form provided to A1 farmers is akin to communal areas based on “customary” forms of allocation, regulation, and adjudication. Tenure insecurity has been identified as a strong disincentive in the current land reform program, especially for those on A2 plots. Participation Findings from KIIs and FGDs across Murewa District revealed several farmer groups and committees. Farmer groups are small and formed on their own initiative or through development agencies with specific objectives, such as strengthening food security and improving the household income of group members. Many of the groups formed are not concerned about diversity but rather contributing to the group cause. Development committees are within government structures at the local level to support and strengthen development by the government and other stakeholders, and local leadership (e.g., village heads leading, along with councillors). Membership in these development committees is usually through a position in the community or voting. Findings from WP 1 revealed that the multiple stakeholder platforms in Murewa were within government structures and at district and ward levels. However, some of these committees might or might not be functional in some areas as they largely depend on the vibrancy of the local leadership. Murewa platforms are the following: a. Rural District Development Committees. For each council area, there shall be a committee known as the Rural District Development Committee (RDDC), consisting of - the district administrator; - the chairman of every other committee established by the council; - the chief executive officer of the council and such other officers as the council may determine; - the senior officer in the district of i. the Zimbabwe Republic Police, ii. the Zimbabwe National Army, and iii. the President’s Department, - the district head of each ministry and department of a ministry within the district that the minister may designate by notice in writing to the district administrator; and - such persons representing other organizations (including development partners) and interests as the minister, on the recommendation of the district administrator, may permit.2 b. Full Council and its various committees. The Full Council consists of all sitting committee members. The Full Council ordinarily sits three times per calendar year; however, the council can sanction special meetings when necessary. c. Ward Development Committee. For each ward of a council area, there shall be a committee established through the Rural District Council (RDC) Act, to be known as a Ward Development Committee (WADCO), consisting of (a) the councillor for the ward, who shall be the chairman of the committee, and (b) the chairman and secretary of every Village Development Committee (VIDCO) and neighborhood development committee in the ward. Provided that, in the case of a ward in which there is neither a VIDCO nor a neighborhood development committee, the minister shall appoint persons to the ward development committee from a list of names prepared by the councillor for the ward. Where a Ward Development Committee cannot be constituted for lack of representation, the minister can appoint such persons as he thinks fit to constitute the committee. A Ward Development Committee shall, on or before 31 March of each year, prepare and submit a ward development plan to the Rural District Development Committee of the council.3 d. Village Development Committee (VIDCO). It is the same as the WADCO in terms of composition and structure but at a lower level (village level), with members being elected by villagers established through the RDC Act. The committee’s role is to plan and coordinate all development activities at the village level and report to the next level structure, the WADCO.4 e. Environment Committee and sub-committee. Every council shall appoint a committee known as the Environment Committee. The Environment Committee shall consist of several such members as the council may fix in consultation with the minister, and, of those members, (a) half shall be councillors appointed by the council and (b) half shall be persons other than councillors, appointed by the council in consultation with the minister.5 December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 28 http://www.vungurdc.org.zw/RDDC.html https://swm-programme.info/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=19c4a770-e252-7c1c-431d-aec12065a0c4&gro https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/28.1.19 https://swm-programme.info/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=19c4a770-e252-7c1c-431d-aec12065a0c4&gro In addition, Murewa District has groups and committees that deal with specific issues of wildlife, livestock, and high incidences of gender-based violence, as follows: i. GBV Coordinating Committee (district level) consists of the Ministry of Health (MH), Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), and development partners that work on issues of abuse. ii. Livestock Development Committees (LDCs): Vet Department, Livestock Production Development, Action AID, AGRITEX, and Lead Farmers. As revealed by stakeholders during KIIs and FGDs, other establishments are the various groups of farmers formed through their initiative and agenda and farmer groups that the development partners have started to facilitate working with project beneficiaries. The findings revealed that farmer groups are not multiple stakeholders in nature – just farmers with a specific challenge to address (e.g., marketing for livestock, horticulture produce, or addressing household income). The findings from WP 1 showed that development partners form groups for beneficiaries of their projects. Regarding power and influence, WP 5 showed that women within Murewa had limited power and freedom to make food- related decisions. During group discussions, the participating women told WP 5 that women are often oppressed and oppress each other, and, even when it comes to putting fellow women in power, they do not vote for each other. It was also mentioned that culture and religion had been used to keep the women submitted to the men. The results show that the role of community members in development planning in Murewa Rural District (MRD) remains constrained and fragmented. This constrained development, communities argue, is designed and implemented by a few elites. Decentralized and participatory development is evident within the structures in the district but it has not translated to the practical engagement of community members. This is an opportunity to establish working local government systems. The communities are limited to financial and political involvement through budgeting and the election of leaders. However, community involvement is a development goal critical in ensuring that community-rooted development is achieved. Some of the Murewa women were UN women involved in “building back” after COVID-19. This initiative was put in place to involve women in economic matters that needed attention after the pandemic peaked. December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 29 Concluding remarks Murewa is a resource-constrained area with low potential for agriculture, yet most of its inhabitants depend on agriculture as a livelihood strategy. The following constraints have been noted. Production constraints { Farmers or communities have limited access to improved seed varieties, thus affecting their yield as they rely on retained seeds. { Their production costs are too high because of high input prices. { Even though they have abundant natural resources such as cattle manure and leaf litter, they don’t have ways to transport manure to their fields. { Less fertile soils characterize the district and, because of numerous human activities, soil fertility is deteriorating, which is affecting their yields. { Poor local livestock breeds don’t fetch higher prices in the market. Human-wildlife conflict { There is an increasing number of elephants, and they are destroying crops in Murewa. { High livestock predation by hyenas, crocodiles, wild dogs, and lions exists. Biophysical constraints { The decrease in the amount of rainfall received affects the growth and maturity of crops. { Prolonged dry spells and uneven distribution of rains also affect crop growth as communities depend on rainfed agriculture. { Rivers dry up quickly because they aren’t receiving sufficient water during the rainy season and livestock must travel long distances for water, leading to livestock predation. Social constraints { Streambank cultivation is causing rivers to dry up fast, thus depriving livestock of their water sources. { ALL members indicated that they lack knowledge or information on identified value chains, production, appropriate use of natural resources, and suitable seed varieties. Economic constraints { Communities don’t have access to a diversified input and output market for the targeted value chains. To address these challenges, the following interventions have been identified as entry points to test agroecological innovations of interest based on the knowledge gaps. Conservation agriculture The introduction of conservation agriculture helps infield water retention and improves soil fertility. CA has several economic and environmental benefits that help buffer farmers from the effects of climate change. The improved soil structure, mulching with crop residues, and the associated increase in soil organic matter improve rainwater infiltration and decrease evaporation from the soil. The higher water- holding capacity of the soil enables crops to reach maturity using residual soil moisture even if the rains cease before the crops have reached physiological maturity (Nielsen & Vigil, 2018). Zero-tillage farming with residue cover saves irrigation water, gradually increases soil organic matter, and suppresses weeds. Leaving the soil undisturbed increases water infiltration, holds soil moisture, and helps to prevent topsoil erosion. Conservation agriculture enhances water intake, allowing for more stable yields amid weather extremes exacerbated by climate change (https://www.cimmyt.org/ news/what-is-conservation-agriculture/). Mechanization Over the past decades, a drive toward more sustainable agriculture has seen the increased advocacy and use of mechanized reduced tillage systems in much of the developed world (Jaleta et al., 2019). Mechanization (especially power units, seeders, rippers, and sprayers) is a key input for CA and smallholder farmers (Mechanization of Conservation Agriculture for smallholders | FAO https://bit.ly/4anHQAI). Two-wheel tractors (single axle, a.k.a. power tillers) are small, versatile, mobile agricultural machines and are often heralded as appropriate mechanization for smallholder farmers given their more appropriate size for operations in small fragmented plots, the less substantive investment needed, and the lower operating costs and multiple uses (Jaleta et al., 2019). Over the previous decade, planter attachments to two-wheel tractors have been developed, which permit seed and fertilizer placement with minimum to zero tillage in a single pass. Recent tests have demonstrated that these implements can produce crop yields equal to or higher than those of conventional tillage involving hand broadcasting of seed and fertilizer (Johansen et al., 2012). Increasing the power supply to agriculture means that more tasks can be completed at the right time and larger areas can be farmed to produce larger quantities of crops while conserving natural resources (https://bit.ly/472aCUC). Push-pull/integrated pest management Push-pull involves intercropping cereal crops with insect- repellent legumes in the Desmodium genus and planting an attractive forage plant such as Napier grass as a border around this intercrop. Push-pull has recently been adapted to drier areas by incorporating drought-tolerant companion plants, such as greenleaf Desmodium as an intercrop and Brachiaria cv. Mulato as a border crop. Push-pull also controls maize ear rots and mycotoxins, thus improving soil health and December 2023 | Context Assessment Report for Murewa, Zimbabwe 30 https://www.cimmyt.org/news/what-is-conservation-agriculture/ https://www.cimmyt.org/news/what-is-conservation-agriculture/ https://bit.ly/4anHQAI providing high-quality fodder since the companion crops are superior forages. Therefore, the technology facilitates crop- livestock integration (https://bit.ly/3RpXPW7). According to Guera et al. (2021), in addition to controlling pests and weeds, push-pull improves the soil, allows the production of other resources (forage), and doubles maize yield. These additional uses of push-pull in another dimension make it an attractive agroecological management method and not just one of pest control. Seed fairs Seed fairs are a special type of agricultural show in which a temporary market is set up so that small-scale farmers can obtain good-quality seeds and seed companies can showcase their different varieties. These fairs aim to promote the development of a seed market for stress-tolerant varieties by forming partnerships with primary seed suppliers, who can provide information on types of crop varieties, their management requirements, amount of yield, and associated risks (https://bit.ly/41hdyLR). Community seed fairs allow farmers to exchange knowledge and experiences on the old and new crops they grow and to generate information about local-level seed production capacity. They also enable the trading, exchange, and sharing of propagation material among farmers and the creation of market linkages (https://bit.ly/3tvRL6u). Seed fairs also create awareness, appreciate local crop diversity, exchange seed and related knowledge, and celebrate farmers’ efforts to conserve agrobiodiversity (https://bit.ly/3v5x7e8). Haymaking In Zimbabwe, the feed-related factors that limit productivity vary at different times of the year. Early in the dry season, feed quality deteriorates, followed by a decrease in quantity because of high-density grazing. In the dry season, the grass in Zimbabwe deteriorates in quality to less than 3% crude protein. The severity of undernutrition worsens during drought, an integral part of southern African farming systems. Developments in feeding strategy are necessary to overcome this constraint (https://bit.ly/3v0E3cu). Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) is one of the herbaceous legumes that can be incorporated within the smallholder farming sector to improve ruminant animal production during the dry season (https://bit.ly/3v7iqY4). Mupangwa et al. (2016) assert that improved grasses show great potential to alleviate the problem of feed shortages during the dry season. Improved grasses are generally bulky and high-yielding crops with high residual soil fertility, use capacity, and broad environmental adaptation. Feed formulation Formulating diets with the appropriate contents of minerals and amino acids can help improve dietary protein and energy efficiency and decrease nutrient losses (https://bit. ly/3NwUZhb). Feed formulation is the tool to value any raw material or feed additive to support performance and to meet sustainability challenges (https://bit.ly/3RJJ6a6). 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