Patricia Mazungunye (42) from Zvokuitirwa village in ward 3 of Chimanimani district, is a small scale-farmer working with PELUM Zimbabwe member, Participatory Organic Research and Extension Training (PORET) Trust.
Patricia says her community is among the worst affected by the El Niño induced drought that marred the 2023/2024 farming season. She says this is because it falls under natural farming region 5 which is characterised by very low rainfall and high temperatures. Therefore, the El Niño phenomenon exacerbated an already dire situation.
“The lack of adequate rainfall this last farming season worsened our already dire situation. Our community suffered because this area already receives low rainfall,” says Patricia.
Patricia says despite this, the impact of the El Niño induced drought has not been uniform in her community. Farmers like her who are practising agroforestry (an agroecology practice) have been cushioned against the drought.
“I have integrated agroforestry in my farming practices for the past 6 years because I noticed that there was scarcity of water in my community. Agroforestry helps with recharging groundwater. With the help of the Participatory Organic Research and Extension Training (PORET) Trust, I have been trained and equipped in agroforestry. This has kept my family resilient and the resilience was particularly pronounced with the recent El Niño induced drought,” says Patricia.
Patricia says agroforestry also contributes to the wellbeing of the ecosystem.
“Agroforestry not only supports my family but also contributes to the local ecosystem. These trees provide shade, improve soil fertility, and enhance ground water retention, which is vital as our water reserves diminish,” says Patricia.
“Agroforestry keeps a balance between animal and plant species whilst farmers are able to get something from their farming. It also replenishes underground water and promotes environmental sustainability,” adds Julious Piti (51), the director for PORET.
An Pagels (34), an agroforestry consultant working with PORET, emphasises the critical role of non-timber forest products.
“Agroforestry which prioritises plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, such as medicinal plants, nuts, and fruits, provide essential resources for communities while promoting biodiversity,” she explains.
“By making use of agroforestry, we can reduce the effects of climate change which is evidently affecting the eastern highlands in Zimbabwe. These resources will help sustain our environment and small-scale farmers’ livelihoods,” she adds.
