More than 70,000 smallholder farmers across 15 districts in Zimbabwe are now part of a major agricultural initiative aimed at improving resilience to climate change, thanks to the Climate Resilient Livelihoods (CRL) project.
The project, which is active in Manicaland, Masvingo, and Matabeleland South provinces, is helping vulnerable farming communities—especially women—adapt to climate shocks through a farmer field school model. The initiative promotes sustainable practices by improving water access, encouraging climate-smart farming methods, and facilitating the use of weather and climate data for informed decision-making.
Dr. Nelson Chanza, the CRL project’s climate-smart agriculture specialist, said that collaboration with local research and training institutions is a key part of the initiative. These include the Matopos Research Institute and Esigodini Agricultural College in Matabeleland South, Makoholi and Chiredzi research stations in Masvingo, and the Chisumbanje Research Institute in Manicaland.
“We currently have 6,900 lead farmers working with about 69,000 secondary farmers. Combined, this network has reached over 70,000 people directly, and many more have benefitted indirectly,” Dr. Chanza explained.
He added that these farmer field schools serve as innovation hubs, connecting farmers with experts and research facilities to help overcome barriers related to climate adaptation in both crop and livestock farming.
The farmer field school approach involves hands-on, group-based learning, allowing farmers to experiment with techniques, monitor outcomes in real-time, and share insights. This model equips participants with practical skills and tailored knowledge that can be directly applied to their local farming contexts.
The CRL project is jointly supported by the Government of Zimbabwe, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Green Climate Fund, with the aim of building climate-resilient rural livelihoods across the country.
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