As climate change continues to reshape rainfall patterns across Zimbabwe’s semi-arid regions, farmers in Mudzi District are being encouraged to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices that strengthen resilience while improving household food security and incomes.
Speaking during the Ward 15 Agricultural Dry Show, District Agricultural Business Advisory Officer Mrs P. Manhamo commended local farmers for their impressive turnout and quality exhibits, describing the event as evidence of the community’s commitment to learning, innovation, and sustainable farming.
She urged farmers to prioritise drought-tolerant traditional grains, which are better suited to Mudzi’s dry conditions, while diversifying into crops such as groundnuts, sunflower, and cowpeas alongside livestock production to improve nutrition, generate income, and reduce vulnerability to climate shocks.
With forecasts pointing to another El Niño season in 2026/27, Mrs Manhamo called on farmers to begin preparing early by participating in Farmer Field Schools, strengthening local input savings schemes, and supporting the Grain Reserve Programme to cushion communities against future food shortages.
She also challenged farmers to move beyond subsistence farming by embracing climate-resilient and market-oriented agricultural practices that can improve livelihoods while safeguarding food systems in the face of increasing climate uncertainty.
The Ward 15 Agricultural Dry Show showcased not only the district’s farming achievements but also the growing determination of communities to adapt to a changing climate through innovation, knowledge sharing, and resilient agricultural practices.
