Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets Activity (FARM) Fiscal Year 2021 Quarter 1 October-December 2020
Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
CONTENTS
ACRONYMS I 1. 1 2. 4 2.1 BACKGROUND 4 2.2 GOALS & OBJECTIVES 4 2.3 IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH 5 2.4 TARGET GEOGRAPHIC ZONES 8 3. 9 3.1 INCREASING INCOMES 10 3.2. INCREASING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY 13 3.3 BUSINESS AND FINANCE ACTIVITIES 21 3.4 IMPROVING NUTRITION AND HYGIENE STATUS 21 3.5 SOCIAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE (SBC) 25 4. 28 5. 33 5.1 GENDER AND YOUTH IMPACT 31 5.2 TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE 32 5.3 LEADERSHIP 32 5.4 PRODUCTIVE ECONOMIC RESOURCES 33 6. 36 7. 37 8. 38 9. 40 10. 41 11. 44 12. 47 13. 47
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
ACRONYMS AGRITEX Department of Agricultural Technical & Extension Services AI Artificial Insemination AMELP Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan BFHA Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance COP Chief of Party COVID-19 Corona Virus Disease of 2019 DFSA Development Food Security Activities DLPD Division of Livestock Development DVS Department of Veterinary Services EMMP Environment Monitoring and Mitigation Plan FAW Fall Armyworm FTFZ-CD Feed the Future Zimbabwe Crop Development Program FTFZ-LD Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program GAP Good Agricultural Practice(s) GAHP Good Animal Husbandry Practice(s) IMC Irrigation Management Committee(s) MAMID Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization, and Irrigation Development MC Meats Montana Carswell Meats MFI Microfinance Institution MOU Memorandum of Understanding MIYCF Maternal, Infant and Young Child Feeding NAZ Nutrition Action Zimbabwe NGO Nongovernmental Organization QASP Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan SBC Social Behavior Change SEL Southeast Lowveld WASH Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is the second quarterly report (Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Quarter 1, October – December 2020) for the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets (FARM) Activity, funded by USAID/Zimbabwe under contract 72061320C00001 and implemented by Chemonics International in cooperation with subcontractors Fintrac Inc., Another Option LLC, and Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ). This report summarizes Activity achievements, results, and impact made during the second quarter of this 60-month contract. During the second quarter, the Activity mainly concentrated on completing the baseline survey, finalizing personnel and administrative assignments, and starting field activities in the two districts of Chipinge and Chiredzi. The Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) remained the main challenge as restricted in-country movement and assembly of large numbers of people limited both office and field operations. Thus, some of the intended field activities including farmer training and technical assistance; introductory program meetings with local leadership and carrying out rapid and participatory district market/business scanning and mapping surveys to develop institutional –strengthening plans were put on-hold. FARM seeks to reduce rural poverty and increase food security and resilience among 20,000 smallholder farmers in Natural Regions III, IV, and V of Manicaland and Masvingo provinces. Working together with private sector partners, FARM will focus on climate-smart market-driven production, productivity, and value-chain development that increase smallholder farmers’ food security, incomes, nutritional status, and resilience. FARM will also engage with beneficiary households to improve their hygiene and nutrition practices. Direct technical assistance from FARM will address humanitarian and food security needs to not only increase smallholder farmers’ incomes, but also generate income for other community members through employment in the agricultural sector. FARM interventions will raise production and productivity; add value to products; expand market access; and increase the availability of credit and other financial products at all levels in the value chain. In addition, participating households receive training and technical assistance in and are exposed to good nutrition and hygiene practices. FARM is also promoting the economic inclusion and empowerment of women and youth, and good environmental stewardship. To maximize outreach and ensure sustainability, interventions will be implemented through collaboration and partnerships with commercial companies, other USAID programs and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Partnerships with financial organizations, private sector traders, processors, input suppliers, and technical service providers are a key part of FARM’s approach to commercialization of smallholder farmers. During the review period, FARM continued to identify potential partners, some have already financed farmer managed crop and livestock demonstrations; collaborated in providing training and technical assistance; and purchased produce from the smallholder farmers. Discussions and exchange of information with other USAID programs – Resilience Anchors Activity, Resilient Waters Program, and Farmer to Farmer – to explore areas of co-creation, collaboration, and layering continued. In addition, follow-ups were made on the submitted application for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement upon which protocols for local authorities in the target districts will be based. A baseline survey was conducted among 413 households in the communities of Buhera, Mutare, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Chiredzi, Zaka, Bikita, Masvingo, Chivi, and Mwenezi districts where FARM plans to work; and analysis of the results was done, which are now informing target geographic areas, indicator targets and technical areas for intervention. FARM has the resources to leverage investments in feasible and viable value chains that have high participation of small and medium entrepreneurs including smallholder farmers.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
An updated workplan covering the period January 2021 to September 2021 was submitted to USAID for review and approval. Field interventions started in essence in the two districts of Chipinge and Chiredzi, piggy backing on the MOUs of Fintrac and NAZ. The 2020/2021 agricultural season started off very well in most parts of Chipinge and Chiredzi districts, with some areas receiving the first rains in October 2020 and receiving effective rains by early December 2020. Cumulative rainfall for the quarter under review for Chipinge and Chiredzi districts were 300 millimeters and 143 millimeters, respectively. The rains received allowed farmers to commence cropping activities on dryland sites. Cattle condition was very poor until mid-November 2020 due to inadequate drinking water and grazing from the rangelands. The continuous rains since November 2020 have improved the availability and quality of grazing from the rangelands and drinking water impacting positively on cattle condition. By the end of the review period, cattle condition had improved from about 1.5 to 2 in mid-November 2020 to average body condition scores between 2.5 to 3. Outbreak of Theileriosis was reported in both Chipinge and Chiredzi districts due to high tick infestations encouraged by the hot and wet conditions and limited dipping services from the government run dipping facilities. The Activity provided technical assistance for on-farm tick control using knapsack sprayers and encouraged farmers to procure PERSUAP complaint acaricides to safe- guard their livestock. Specific Activity achievements during the review period despite the challenges from the COVID-19 movement restrictions include: ● The Activity worked with 348 farmers, 49 percent women and 13 percent youth, in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts. Farmers received training and technical assistance on GAPs, and GAHPs; crop production, and establishment of crop demonstration plots; natural resource management, business, and entrepreneurship skills; introduction of new technologies, good nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices; off-farm income activities, as well as linkages with input and output markets, and financiers. ● Sixty-five farmer managed crop and livestock demonstration sites were set up to augment the technical training, show good GAPs, and GAHPs as well as facilitating farmer-to-farmer learning, technology adoption and enhance linkages with the private sector input suppliers and output buyers. Twenty-nine are on irrigation schemes and 36 on rain-fed (dryland) sites. Thirty-five sites are in Chiredzi district while farmers in Chipinge district are hosting 30. These demonstration sites exhibit improved livestock cultural practices; crop genetics; recommended plant population and fertilizer application rates; disease and pest control practices; and weed control using PERSUAP compliant herbicides on maize. ● The Activity facilitated 35 smallholder cattle owners (46 percent women) to access $10,488 (an average of $300 per smallholder cattle owner) in loans to purchase veterinary drugs, pen- fattening and supplementary stock feed. The beef farmers pen-fed 71 cattle for 45 days and realized $39,000 in gross sales through Montana Carswell Meats abattoir. ● Ten beef-dairy farmers (80 percent women) sold 1,420 liters of raw milk to informal and formal markets including Dairibord Zimbabwe Limited earning $903 in gross sales value. One female horticulture producer was linked to a formal market and sold 3 tons of butternuts for $900. ● The Activity identified and collaborated with 21 private sector companies, some of which have already financed farmer managed crop and livestock demonstrations while others have purchased produce from the smallholder farmer beneficiaries. ● During the period under review, 296 unique beneficiaries (50 percent women) were trained on maternal infant and young child nutrition and feeding (MIYCF) and 262 beneficiaries (50 percent women) trained in good WASH practices. Farmers were encouraged to produce and utilize nutritious foods for household consumption, practice exclusive breastfeeding, as well
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
as good infant and young child feeding methods. Good hygiene and sanitation practices, linked to nutrition outcomes, were also promoted. ● The Activity conducted a team building behavior change webinar that covered basic social behavior change (SBC) terminologies, theories, roles, and application of SBC in the FARM Activity. FARM acknowledges that the starting point is behavior change among its staff and hence all the 28 staff were in attendance and testified that the virtual training was transformative and applicable in the modern extension work. ● The Activity also intensified interventions and strategies that help beneficiary farmers cope with climate change and ensure environmental sustainability as well as mitigate human- wildlife conflicts. During the review period, 56 farmers planted 440 trees at and around their homesteads as well as provided maintenance on already established orchards and woodlots in the two districts. With regards to human-wildlife conflict issues, the Activity used the introductory meetings with beneficiaries to map out areas with human and wildlife conflicts and identified three operational corridors with proximity to game parks or conservancies in Chiredzi district. In Chipinge district, meetings were conducted with farmers bordering the Save Conservancy to identify areas of conflict with wildlife. ● With two quarters into implementation, the Activity has spent 6.8 percent of its total budget to date. Looking ahead, FARM has identified potential challenges, such as delays in getting MOUs with the parent ministry and local authorities; the continued COVID-19 movement restrictions, which will curtail field activities; animal deaths due to increase in tick infestations; poor organization of markets; commercial inexperience of smallholder groups; and smallholder expectations of free inputs based on previous humanitarian strategies. The Activity is strategizing on the best way forward to overcome these obstacles. No financial problems were experienced this quarter. Going forward, planned activities include (1) analyzing the results from the baseline survey to identify target sites and interventions for each site, (2) deploying field technical staff in line with the approved FARM Security Plan to districts where FARM can implement activities using protocols established by the Activity as well as by cooperating partners, (3) continuing on the ground technical assistance and training in crops and livestock, and (4) rolling out the farmer field schools at demonstration sites.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 BACKGROUND
FARM, began on July 01, 2020 and will run through to June 30, 2025., It is working to reduce rural poverty and improve household food security and resilience among smallholder producers in drought prone districts of Manicaland and Masvingo provinces. This will be achieved through climate-smart increased production, productivity, and market linkages in both crop and livestock production. Working together with private sector partners, FARM is commercializing smallholder farmers through inclusive market driven, value chain development approach that invests in viable business models that create wealth through: ● Solving the problems of low farm productivity, inconsistent market supply and high costs of smallholder product aggregation and input procurement. ● Strengthening and promoting market-oriented smallholder production systems premised on nutrient-dense and high- value crops, fruits, vegetables, and livestock. ● Increasing yields and reducing costs through the transfer of climate-smart, low-cost technologies and practices. ● Sourcing financial and technical assistance to reduce the costs of aggregation and marketing of food crops, new cash crops, and livestock. ● Improving post-harvest handling systems to reduce physical wastage and quality related price erosion. ● Adding value through processing crops and livestock products from smallholder production systems into manufactured goods for local, national, and international markets. ● Attracting new private sector investments at critical points along the value chain to increase demand and utilization of smallholder produced agricultural products creating opportunities for off-farm employment and new income. ● Building the capacity for quality, continuity of supply, and cost-competitiveness of smallholder produced crop and livestock products. ● Promoting the economic inclusion and empowerment of women and youth, and good environmental stewardship. FARM also collaborates with other USAID activities and other donor programs to provide specialized technical support for the effective and efficient utilization of resources for sustainable development. Chemonics is implementing FARM in cooperation with subcontractors Fintrac Inc., Another Option, and Nutrition Action Zimbabwe. Additionally, FARM is working and collaborating with local private companies, NGOs, the Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX), Division of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD), and Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), and other government departments involved in WASH and Nutrition. 2.2 GOALS & OBJECTIVES
The primary goal of FARM is to provide inclusive economic opportunities for 20,000 smallholder farmers in Natural Regions III, IV, and V and other actors along viable agricultural value chains by sustainably increasing their production, productivity, and incomes, thereby enhancing their food security, nutrition, hygiene, resilience, and poverty reduction. The Activity is targeting to build the resilience of smallholder farmers frequently facing erratic weather conditions such as recurring droughts in districts of Masvingo and Manicaland provinces by commercializing their existing and new agricultural enterprises. This is done through the promotion and adoption of climate-smart good agricultural and animal husbandry practices; improved marketing, hygiene, and nutritional practices; and building market linkages that not only generate new income but increase smallholder farmers’ overall net worth, food security, and improved nutritional and hygienic status.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
The Activity will accomplish this goal through the achievement of two intermediary results: 1. Livelihoods opportunities and incomes diversified and expanded through establishing resilient and sustainable market linkages; increased off-farm income opportunities; increased agricultural production and productivity; increased access to appropriate finance; increased adoption of good animal husbandry practices (GAHPs), good agricultural practices (GAPs) and climate- smart technologies and increased investments along the targeted value chains. 2. Improved hygiene- and nutrition-related behaviors through increasing nutrition-sensitive agricultural production and productivity and increased incomes coupled with training and technical assistance on good household nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation practices. Interventions will focus on a whole farm commercialization approach to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable groups through appropriate and sustainable commercial initiatives. These activities will move rural families from subsistence to commercial farming systems and increase their net worth through investment in cattle and other on-farm productivity-enhancing assets. 2.3 IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH
The results framework below summarizes FARM’s implementation approach. Climate-smart and inclusive market-driven interventions will sustainably raise production, productivity, and incomes from smallholder crop and livestock production systems; improve hygiene practices and behaviors; increase the availability and utilization of nutritious foods; expand market access; expand availability of credit and finance across value chains; add value to smallholder produced agricultural products; and boost agricultural investment.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
Exhibit 1: FARM Results Framework Summary
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
To maximize outreach and ensure sustainability, FARM will partner with commercial companies, NGOs, and relevant government departments to carry out interventions. Developing commercial partnerships through a national network of agribusinesses strengthens farmers’ access to markets with fair prices; provides working capital and finance at realistic rates; supplies inputs efficiently; and provides extension and training to growers as an embedded cost. The partnerships focus on establishing service provision options at market rates. During its first year, FARM will be engaged in the following: ● Identifying high-potential and viable crop and livestock agribusiness hubs in targeted regions. ● A whole-farm commercialization approach at the household level that underpins the engagement of all economically active household members in improving market-oriented production and productivity, reducing unit costs of production, and promoting mixed farming as the first step to commercialization. The focus will be on ensuring households are efficiently producing for home consumption and generating cash through the commercialization of agro- commodities. ● Improving the competitiveness of smallholder farmers’ production systems through capacity building and technical assistance in production and productivity enhancing business skills, GAHPs, GAPs, and climate-smart technologies including but not limited to biological and integrated pest management; efficient water harvesting, conservation and irrigation systems; low tillage techniques; wind and water erosion barriers; crop rotations, composting, mulching and cover crops to improve soil texture; fodder production and conservation; proper stocking rates and use of drought-tolerant crop varieties. ● Expanding the availability of improved inputs for smallholder farmers throughout NRs III, IV, and V by creating new commercial partnerships with input suppliers as well as introducing low- to no-cost interventions that improve on farm and off-farm productivity, animal health and nutrition. ● Demonstrating the high investment returns achieved by employing climate-smart, low-cost technologies and improved management practices. ● Bringing more market players to engage smallholder farmers in identified agribusiness hubs to increase demand for smallholder products. Activities will also seek to improve quality, increase quantity, and assure reliability of supply and coordination. ● Creating more sustainable markets and harnessing new private investment in smallholder agricultural systems by supporting innovative business models in the formal and informal sectors. ● Sourcing finance for harnessing new business models and technical assistance to reduce the costs of aggregation and marketing and create more sustainable market arrangements. ● Facilitating access to finance for all value chain players to increase new investments in the targeted value chains. ● Encouraging farmers to increase their on-farm and off-farm investments into assets and production systems. ● Training farmers on farming as a business, business management and entrepreneurship to re- orient farmers’ mentality to regard their farms and operations as businesses.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
● Collaborating with other USAID and development organizations in the SEL to maximize the return on the development dollar and maximize USAID’s development impact. 2.4 TARGET GEOGRAPHIC ZONES
FARM is being implemented in Masvingo and Manicaland provinces. Operational districts and preliminary wards are still to be selected and this will be based on the number of households in NRs III, IV, and V engaged in staple grains, pulses and other food crop production, horticulture, small stock, beef and milk production; potential for market development through private sector alliances; proximity to and in consideration of the new Development Food Security Activities (DFSA) and Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BFHA) and their graduated clients; baseline income and livelihoods information; potential for a high number of female-headed households and youthful entrepreneurs; and logistical and operational cost containment factors. FARM will also layer its activities with the Resilient Waters Activity and the recently awarded Resilient ANCHORS Activity. Working with the Resilience ANCHORS chief of party (COP), districts and wards will be chosen within the Southeast Lowveld (SEL) communities surrounding the Save Valley Wildlife Conservancy, Bubye Valley Wildlife Conservancy, Gonarezhou National Park, and the associated wildlife corridors. FARM is also building on Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development (FTFZ-LD) and Feed the Future Zimbabwe Crop Development (FTFZ-CD) established hubs to expand and replicate the successful approaches of both projects to new households. FARM interventions are targeting functional irrigation schemes and FTFZ-LD established beef and dairy hubs as initial entry points. The Activity will capitalize on the regular interactions of farmers, buyers, input suppliers, and service providers already established around these hubs to strengthen links between farmer groups, buyers, input suppliers, and service providers. Provision of technical assistance by FARM will cement these linkages into strong business partnerships. During the review period, the team identified and commenced interventions at 30 and 35 sites in Chipinge, and Chiredzi districts respectively. It continued to meet virtually with local leadership in Buhera district, other donor programs, and input suppliers and buyers of produce from smallholder farmers in the target geographic areas. This initiative was meant to identify additional potential sites for Activity interventions. Combined with economic and market analysis and results from the baseline survey, the team is identifying potential value chains, most promising sites, and realistic activities for each target site in the next quarter1 The selection process for each site will continue to be guided by FARM’s overarching commercialization approach which looks at: ● Market potential – accessibility, size, growth potential, buyer interest
1 Take note that movement restrictions due COVID-19 have intensified from 05 January 2021 curtailing FARM’s ability to deploy field officers on the ground to start technical assistance activities. However, limited field activities will be confined to Chipinge and Chiredzi districts until Chemonics receives full authority to implement FARM from the Zimbabwe government.
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● Rapid expected returns on labor and capital ● Capital requirements and access to credit and finance ● Availability of infrastructure and facilities ● Availability of capable commercial partners ● Overall competitiveness in terms of product cost and quality – including analysis of grower knowledge and climatic and agronomic factors. 3. ACTIVITIES During the period under review, , the FARM Activity deployed technical field officers to Chiredzi and Chipinge districts in Masvingo and Manicaland Provinces, respectively. Field activities were confined to these two districts given that FARM is still in the process of acquiring an MOU with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement and limitations caused by the COVID-19 restrictions on movement. The Activity provided training and technical assistance on aspects covering crop and livestock production, business development services, gender and youth, environment, nutrition, and WASH to 348 beneficiaries (49 percent women and 13 percent youth). Focus was on encouraging farmers to adopt the whole farm approach and take farming as a family business. In line with FARM’s market driven approach, engagements and discussions were made with private sector players to identify and develop win-win business opportunities for increasing smallholder farmers’ access to sustainable input, output, finance, and services markets. Specific technical activities covered include: • Conducting baseline data collection and analysis • Establishing crop, fodder, and nutrition demonstration plots on irrigation schemes and dryland sites • Engagement with local authorities • Inception meetings with farmers including re-engagement with FTFZ-LD beef-dairy farmers in Chipinge district • Identification of crop and livestock beneficiaries and potential lead farmers • Mobilizing livestock farmers for pen fattening and linking them to abattoirs and input suppliers • Establishing artificial insemination (AI) demonstration centers and mobilizing cattle for AI • Engagement with output buyers, input suppliers, and financial institutions • Setting up farmer groups including women and youth aggregation groups • Developing human- wildlife conflicts resolution strategies • Establishing fruit and multi-purpose trees • Promoting COVID-19 awareness in collaboration with relevant stakeholders
The Activity ensured that participant engagement was conducted observing COVID-19 regulations, which include social distancing, washing hands with detergent and running clean water as well as the proper wearing of face masks.
In Chiredzi district, the Activity leveraged on the presence of NAZ and targeted irrigation schemes as the entry points. Inception meetings with farmers, local authorities, irrigation management committees (IMCs) and relevant government stakeholders were held on nine irrigation schemes in wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 23 and 25. For planning and logistical reasons, the Activity identified three potential operational corridors with possible viable agribusiness hubs and product flow to Chiredzi, Chipinge, Masvingo, and Mutare towns.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
The first corridor with five irrigation schemes covers wards 1, 2, 3, 4, and 25 and includes Gudo, St. Josephs, Dendere, Tshovani, and Rupangwana irrigation schemes. The second corridor is the Nyangambe cluster in Ward 23 with two irrigation schemes Nyangambe Village 3 and Nyangambe Village 5. The third corridor covers wards 6, 7, and 11 and two irrigation schemes: namely, Chilonga and Malikango. In Chiredzi the Activity reached out to a total of 140 farmers (48 percent women and 13 percent youth) who received training and technical assistance on aspects covering crop and livestock production; gender and youth; environment; nutrition and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). In Chipinge district, the Activity leveraged on the FTFZ-LD and CD activities in wards 1, 3, 4, 16, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, targeting beneficiaries on both dryland and irrigation schemes and worked with 208 beneficiaries (50 percent women and 12 percent youth). On dryland sites, the Activity targeted FTFZ-LD beneficiaries who had invested in boreholes under the FTFZ-LD Grants under Contracts (GUC) and beef-dairy farmers, while in irrigation schemes the Activity reached out to Chibuwe and Musikavanhu irrigators. Sixteen dryland fodder demonstration plots, five feedlots, and five AI demonstration centers were also set-up to provide hands-on training and technical assistance. The Activity also focused on setting up high-value crop demonstrations on farms with access to irrigation water. Fourteen high-value crop demonstrations were set-up. The Activity collaborated with Syngenta, SeedCo, Mukushi, Zadzamatura and Agri-seeds in setting up dryland fodder and maize demonstration plots on irrigation schemes, while Montana Carswell Meats (MC Meats) was engaged to finance stock feed and drugs for pen fattening and supplementary feeding cattle through their Feeder Finance Scheme2. The Activity also focused on ramping up the supply of raw milk to Dairibord Zimbabwe in Chipinge town. 3.1 INCREASING INCOMES
FARM promoted activities and interventions that improve whole farm production and productivity; viability and reliability of product supply to the market; and relationships among livestock, horticulture, and staple crop market actors. The objective of these interventions is to generate new income streams for all value chain players through an increase in sales volumes and reduction in marketing costs. Specific market interventions during the review period are highlighted below. 3.1.1 Livestock Sales Beef, dairy, and small livestock owners received training and technical assistance in production and productivity enhancing GAPs, GAHPs, business skills, and technologies such as supplementary feeding, pen fattening, de-worming, herd rationalization and gross margin budgeting. Farmers were also linked to sources of affordable credit and lucrative and sustainable markets to enhance returns on their livestock sales. 3.1.1.1Cattle sales During the review period, FARM partnered with MC Meats to promote pen fattening under the abattoir’s feeder finance scheme. In Chipinge district, two new beef aggregators were identified. The new aggregators mobilized 34 cattle for pen fattening under the Montana Feeder Finance Scheme. A total of 35 beneficiaries (46 percent women) from Chipinge district’s wards 16, 21, 24, 27 and 29 participated in the 45-day feeder finance scheme and sold 71 cattle to the abattoir for a total sales value of $39,000 (see Table 3.1.1).
2 Montana’s Feeder Finance scheme involves Montana Carswell Meats providing in-kind loans of pen fattening meal and veterinary drugs to cattle farmers committed to fatten their cattle over a 45–90-day period and delivering the finished cattle to Montana Carswell for slaughter after the fattening period. Montana will recover the principal and the cost of the loan from the sale proceeds.
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Table 3.1.1.1.1: FARM FACILITATED FEEDLOT SALES (October – December 2020)
Buyer Cattle Location Location Numbe Numbe Lowes Highes Total categor District r of r cattle t price t price sales y Province farmers ($) ($) ($)
Montan Feedlot Manicalan Chipinge 35 (16 71 294 832 39,000 a Meats d women) abattoir
Total 35 71 294 832 39,00 0
Prices paid ranged from $294 to $832 per animal cold dressed mass (cdm) (see also Table 3.1.1.1.2). The 71 cattle produced 10,792 kilograms of beef, average of 152 kilograms per animal. Forty-three (61 percent) of the cattle that were manufacturer grades at feedlot induction, graded commercial, 24 graded economy and four were graded under the manufacturer grade. The manufacturer grades were under weights (less than 105 kilograms carcass weights). The 45-day pen fattening window improved carcass grades from the least grade, which is manufacturing, with a value of $1.50 per kilogram to commercial grade valued at $3.25 per kilogram. Table 3.1.1.1.2: Beef Prices by Grade Grade Symbol Price ($) Manufacturer J 1.50 Economy X 2.40 Commercial B 3.25 Choice O 3.30 Super S 4.00 Source: MC Meats The Activity is aiming to increase the target carcass weights to above 220 kilograms per animal and the grading out percentage through training and technical assistance on GAHPs and well-planned cattle breeding involving superior bulls, females, and artificial insemination (AI). To improve the grading out percentage, FARM will provide training and technical assistance on production of adequate low-cost supplementary feeds to maintain cattle body condition at scores above 3 (on a score scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the worst) throughout the year. Supplementary feeds to be promoted included production of velvet beans, forage sorghum, pearl millet and forage grasses and trees. In addition, farmers will be encouraged to harvest hay and leguminous plants3 from the rangeland. 3.1.1.2 Milk sales In Chipinge district, the Activity leveraged on the three milk aggregators and 60 beef-dairy farmers from the FTFZ-LD program as an entry point. FARM recorded sales of 1,420 liters of milk worth $903 to either formal or informal markets during the review period from 10 farmers in Chipinge district Ward 4 (Table 3.1.1.2.1). Two farmers sold 670 liters of raw milk to Dairibord Zimbabwe Limited towards the end of December 2020. Eight farmers (100 percent women) sold 750 liters of sour milk to local schools and other farmers. Of the 750 liters sold on the informal market, 300 liters were
3 Leguminous plants include Faidherbia, Dichrostachys cinerea,
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 supplies from a single beef -dairy farmer milking a Red Dane – Jersey cow. The cow is yielding eight liters of raw milk per day. FARM is targeting to work with 150 beef- dairy farmers and to increase the average milk yield to 10 liters per cow per day from 2.3 liters per cow per day at baseline in FY 2020. Table 3.1.1.2.1: Recorded Milk Sales from Activity Focus Areas (October – December 2020) October – December 2020 Volume Average Value of sales Province/District Buyer (l) price ($) ($) I) Informal Markets Farm gate and Chipinge 750 0.74 555 vending Total 750 0.74 555 ii) Formal Markets Dairibord Chipinge 670 0.52 348 Zimbabwe Limited Source: Feed the Future Zimbabwe FARM
Formal milk marketing from beef-dairy farmers in Chipinge district is affected by the seasonal flow or availability of fodder and water as well as the herd genetics. Generally, farmers are milking their cows for a maximum of about seven months (210 days) and the cows are dried during the lean season from August to December. FARM is targeting to increase the lactation length to about 305 days by addressing animal nutrition; genetics and health; good fodder flow planning, production, harvesting, storage, and utilization; improved breeding strategies to infuse appropriate dairy genetics into the beef herds, and adoption of GAHPs that include disease prevention, control, and treatment. FARM identified three new potential milk aggregators during the review period and initiated procedures for their accreditation to aggregate and sell their milk to Dairibord Zimbabwe Limited in Chipinge. The new aggregators, each have seven producers in their vicinity with whom they are collaborating on technical issues and aggregation of milk for sale to formal markets. Members in the aggregation groups have started constructing upgradable milk parlors and have planted fodder for supplementary feeding. The aggregators have also been selling their milk to other farmers in Maunganidze, Taona and Mutema irrigation schemes. The COVID-19 lock down movement restrictions, have delayed certification of the new aggregators by the Provincial Dairy Services Officer. 3.1.1.3 Small Livestock sales FARM is promoting GAPs and GAHPs to increase production and productivity of small livestock (goats, sheep, and poultry) to diversify family incomes, and improve household nutritional status. During the review period, FARM collaborated with MC Meats in informing and mobilizing goats through the beef aggregators for formal marketing. The abattoir is ready to collect goats and sheep from Chipinge and Chiredzi districts together with cattle or by sending smaller trucks. Farmers welcomed the FARM intervention of linking them to abattoirs who are paying based on cold dressed mass, where a 15-kilogram carcass is fetching between $45 - $55. This contrasts with middlemen who are buying goats on liveweight mass ranging from 30-35 kilograms at between $15 and $30. The new marketing opportunity complements the traditional market from Beitbridge buyers who pay $30 per animal without weighing. In Chiredzi district Ward 11, the Activity mobilized six existing income, savings, and lending (ISAL) groups to act as aggregation groups for goat marketing to abattoirs where a ready market exists. The use of ISAL groups makes it easier to reach out to women beneficiaries. In addition, there is scope to facilitate the ISALs to transform into production and productivity lending groups (PPLS) ensuring other members who do not own goats are encouraged to borrow and invest in goat production and or improved infrastructure.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
3.1.2 Crop Sales During the review period, the Activity assisted farmers in designing well managed cropping calendars, identifying new suppliers of improved horticultural seeds and new markets for their produce. FARM has engaged Starke Ayres to give technical assistance to irrigation scheme farmers on the diverse range of vegetable crop cultivars such as carrots, watermelons, cabbages, onions, beetroot, and spinach suitable for production on some irrigation schemes in Chiredzi district. Of interest and available are new carrot varieties that can be grown all year round unlike the previous situation where only varieties suitable for cool weather conditions were available. In Musikavanhu and Chibuwe irrigation schemes in Chipinge district, buyers including Parrogate, Peak trading, and Pro-brands were engaged to buy sugar beans. In Chiredzi district, FARM engaged farmers at Malikango, Rupangwana, St. Josephs and Gudo irrigation schemes to analyze and find solutions for their annual challenges in sugar bean production and marketing. It was noted that sugar bean quality and consequently aggregation are compromised by use of mixed seed varieties which result in downgrading of the final product. Farmers agreed to group purchase certified seed varieties to ensure uniformity of produce and to avoid using retained seed after the third year of production. 3.1.2.1 Horticultural Crop Sales During the review period, the Activity linked Faith Sithole to Green Fuel for the sale of three tons of butter nuts at $0.30 per kilogram and she earned $900 in income. However, beneficiaries in Musikavanhu and Chibuwe irrigation schemes producing maize, tomatoes, ground nuts, butternuts and potatoes are failing to market their crops and are currently incurring a lot of post harvesting losses. The Activity in collaboration with several output buyers, and AGRITEX initiated the process of drawing up practical and well managed cropping calendars and recommended GAPs such as selecting the market required varieties; planting dates; land preparation and fertilization; seed spacing and optimum plant population to avoid losses from poor planning. 3.1.2.2 Staple Crop Sales During the review period, 131 farmers (44 percent women) were trained on group marketing of crops through the village aggregation model, where one farmer will be mobilizing maize from each block to a central point for the identified market to buy from. Currently, 350 irrigation farmers from the seven blocks of Musikavanhu and Chibuwe irrigation schemes have planted about 70 hectares of maize the bulk of which will be destined for the market. FARM engaged Chibs Holdings in Chipinge and Peak Trading in Harare for purchasing the maize once it becomes ready. 3.2. INCREASING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY
The 2020/2021 cropping season started off very well with some areas receiving the first rains in October 2020 and receiving effective rains by early December 2020 (See Table 3.2). Table 3.2: Rainfall Status in Program Areas, as of December 31, 2020 Area Octobe Novembe Decembe Cumulativ Crop/livestock status r r r e Rainfall Received October – Dec 2020 (mm) Chiredzi 0.00mm 66.0mm 77.0mm Significant and effective rains received in December 2020 143 mm with maize crop demonstration set up starting during that month. Most
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
Table 3.2: Rainfall Status in Program Areas, as of December 31, 2020 Area Octobe Novembe Decembe Cumulativ Crop/livestock status r r r e Rainfall Received October – Dec 2020 (mm) farmers did land preparations in November and December Planting of irrigated demonstration plots started in late November running through to late December and crop germination was above 95 percent. Farmers used irrigation water to supplement the rains when moisture deficit was noticed. Dryland planting covering mainly sorghum and fodder started in December 2020 in Ward 11. However, some areas deferred planting to early January 2021 as they were not happy with the rainfall distribution for December 2020. While the rangeland was bare and trees leafless for the greater part of the review period, there were significant improvements in December as grass quickly emerged and rapidly grew. Rivers and streams also started flowing in December with big rivers like Runde and Save flooding during the greater part of the month. Chiping 20 mm 60 mm 220 mm 300 mm Significant rains were received e at the end November 2020
and 50 percent of farmers in all activity operational areas planted their dry land crops (mostly pulses, sorghum, millet, and fodder crops). Fodder demonstration plots were established in the same month and germination percentage under dry land conditions was about 80 percent. Maize demonstration plots under irrigation conditions were also
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
Table 3.2: Rainfall Status in Program Areas, as of December 31, 2020 Area Octobe Novembe Decembe Cumulativ Crop/livestock status r r r e Rainfall Received October – Dec 2020 (mm) established in November2020, and germination was above 90 percent. Some farmers’ fields in irrigation schemes experienced water-logging due to the continuous rains. Cattle condition was very poor until mid-November 2020 and has been improving since then due to improvement in the rangeland from the good rains received in November 2020 and December 2020. By end of the review period cattle condition had improved from about 1.5 to 2in mid- November 2020 to average body condition scores between 2.5 to 3 Source: Met Department & AGRITEX 3.2.1. Crop production and productivity As an entry point, FARM conducted appraisal studies of nine irrigation schemes in Chiredzi district and two irrigation schemes in Chipinge district to ascertain their functionality and willingness to partner with the Activity. Meetings were held with the farmers, IMCs and various subcommittees that included the marketing, and engineering committees. The Activity collaborated with AGRITEX, and agronomists from various private sector companies that were engaged. In Chipinge district, FARM is working with Musikavanhu and Chibuwe irrigation schemes. Table 3.2.1.1. summarizes the finding from the irrigation scheme appraisals. Table 3.2.1.1: Functional Status of Irrigation Schemes Appraised by FARM December 2020 Ward Irrigation Total Total # Area Water Current Output markets Scheme land of currently source Crops Holding farmers under cropping activity Chiredzi District, Masvingo Province 1 Gudo 44 183 26 Save (Electric Maize Checheche Informal pump) buyers 2 St. Josephs 70 633 55 Save (Electric Maize and Informal buyers pump) groundnuts
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
Table 3.2.1.1: Functional Status of Irrigation Schemes Appraised by FARM December 2020 Ward Irrigation Total Total # Area Water Current Output markets Scheme land of currently source Crops Holding farmers under cropping activity Chiredzi District, Masvingo Province 2 Dendere 20 40 20 Save (Electric Maize and Informal buyers pump) groundnuts
3 Tshovani 360 120 360 Save (Electric Maize, SeedCo had a failed pumps) soyabeans, sugar bean contract cotton, and groundnuts 4 Rupangwana 50 64 12.5 Save (Electric Maize Informal buyers pump)
23 Nyangambe 180 30 44 Manjirenji Maize and Cottco, Village 3 Dam cotton Better Agriculture (Gravity) 23 Nyangambe 200 200 50 Manjirenji Maize Cairns Foods once Village 5 Dam contracted the (Gravity) farmers 6 Chilonga 512 315 159.1 Runde Maize Informal buyers (electric pump into canal)
11 Malikango 100 104 45 Mwenezi Maize Informal buyers river (diesel pump into canal) Chipinge District, Manicaland Province Musikavanhu 697 622 610 Save river Bananas (30ha) Peak Trading, and bore tomatoes Matanuska and holes (20ha), Maize Rating (310ha), ground nuts (250ha) Chibuwe 347.3 363 330.4 Save river Maize (200ha), Peak Trading, and bore ground nuts Matanuska holes (100ha), sweet potatoes (0.4ha), bananas (30ha) The Activity in collaboration with AGRITEX and private sector companies, mostly seed houses SeedCo, Syngenta, Mukushi, Agriseeds, and Zadzamatura held inception and training meetings with smallholder farmers working on the 11 irrigation schemes. As it was the start of the rainy season, focus was on staple crop production, as the horticulture planting window is from March, when the rainfall is reduced. Performance of most horticultural crops is negatively affected by constant rain. Hence, training and technical assistance covered interventions for establishing a profitable maize crop (timeous land preparation, timeous procurement of inputs, appropriate planting time, fertilizer
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 application, weed control, proper spacing which gives optimum plant population per hectare and ultimately optimum yield leading to improved sales and increased household income). Twenty-nine maize demonstration plots were established (Table 3.2.1.2) to showcase good agricultural practices that increase production and productivity in terms of recommended planting rates and spacings; fertilization regimes; herbicide use; soil pH management; drought tolerance; fall armyworm (FAW) management and proper use of PERSUAP compliant crop chemicals. Currently the crops are well established, with good plant stands, plant vigor and FAW is under control - improving the prospects of household food security and resilience for beneficiary farmers. Table 3.2.1.2: FARM demonstration plots on irrigation schemes 20/21 Season District and Scheme name No. of Crops Technologies province demonstration showcased plots Chiredzi, Chilonga 4 Maize Improved crop genetics, Masvingo recommended plant Gudo 2 Maize population and fertilizer Rupangwana 1 Maize application rates, pesticides for disease Nyangambe 3 1 Maize and pest control, Nyangambe 2 Maize herbicides application (PERSUAP compliance) Malikango 5 Maize
Sub total 15 Maize Chipinge, Musikavanhu B5 2 Maize Improved crop genetics, Manicaland recommended plant population and fertilizer Musikavanhu B1- 8 Maize application rates, 4 pesticides for disease Chibuwe A 2 Maize and pest control, herbicides application Chibuwe B 2 Maize (PERSUAP compliance) Sub total 14 Maize
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
In Chipinge district, farmers were also advised to practice minimum tillage (ripping) to minimize soil panning, poor drainage, erosion, and water logging. In addition to setting up maize demonstration plots, FARM collaborated with input suppliers and output buyers to introduce high-value horticultural crops such as leafy vegetables, tomatoes, okra, butternuts, and green beans to smallholder farmers with access to water in irrigation schemes and some farmers who have invested in boreholes. To enhance yield and quality, 312 farmers (51 percent women) received training and technical assistance on improved crop genetics, recommended plant spacings, fertilizer application (correct quantity and timing), use of PERSUAP compliant pesticides for pest and disease control as well as low-cost technologies such as cultural control practices for disease management, use of manure for soil fertility An emerging maize crop at Malikango irrigation improvement, integrated pest management, crop scheme in Chiredzi. rotations and good post-harvest management Photo credits: Chemonics International practices, during the review period. At Gudo, St. Josephs, and Tshovane irrigation schemes seed houses were engaged to increase the access of farmers to improved genetic material that enhance yields and quality. In addition, input suppliers were engaged to provide farmers with technical assistance on selection of potential crops and varieties for planting in the available cropping windows. FTFZ-FARM is still engaging more players in the fertilizer and pesticides sector to help address some of the challenges faced by irrigation scheme farmers. On dryland sites, the Activity engaged Zadzamatura and Mukushi to spearhead the setting up of fodder and nutrition demonstration plots (Table 3.2.1.3). The two companies jointly supplied 55 kilograms of improved Macia sorghum seed suitable for both human consumption and use as livestock fodder and feed. Thirty-six sorghum demonstration plots were set up in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts to showcase the crop genetics, conservation farming practices, proper fertilizer application and fall armyworm management. Sorghum demonstration plots make-up 25 percent of the total area established, while velvet beans and or sunn hemp constitute the balance of 75 percent. Velvet beans and or sunn hemp will be used to promote low-cost fodder production, conservation, and storage. In Chiredzi district, 20 lead farmers (50 percent women and 5 percent youth) had started planting their 0.8-hectare demonstration plots at the end of the review period. Table 3.2.1.3: FARM Demonstration Plots on Dry Land Sites 2020/2021 Season Province District No. of Main crops on demos Technologies showcased demos Manicaland Chipinge 16 Sorghum, velvet bean, lab Fodder crop varieties, dry planting, lab, millet, sunn hemp and conservation agriculture techniques; silage maize intercropping of fodder crops, and pesticides use in fodder production
Masvingo Chiredzi 20 Sorghum, velvet bean and Fodder crop varieties; production best sunn hemp practices, conservation agriculture techniques 3.2.2. Livestock production and productivity Demonstrations showcasing low to no-cost husbandry practices in both large and small livestock production, were set-up in Chiredzi and Chipinge districts. The demonstrations were managed and
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 run by beneficiary farmers in partnership with private sector input suppliers and output buyers as well as relevant government extension staff from AGRITEX and DVS. Results from the baseline survey indicated average beef herd sizes of 3.10 among FARM’s potential
The Activity noted that some farmers in Chiredzi had stocks of harvested velvet bean seed from last season but were not aware that the crop can be used for on-farm formulation of ruminant animals’ survival feed. “We have more than 1,000 kilograms of velvet bean seed that we intended to sell as we did not know that we can use it to produce nutritious livestock feed, but we observed that livestock were feeding on the residues left in the fields. Surprisingly, every year we lose cattle to poverty deaths. Now that FARM is with us, we want to learn and save our herds” said, Petros Kujirichita, a farmer at St. Joseph’s irrigation scheme in Ward 2. Similarly, Hasan Makusha, village head, lead farmer, from Malikango Irrigation Scheme, also welcomed fodder production as a relief to his nomadic herding lifestyle, a practice that saw him spending up to 120 days away from his homestead every year in search of pastures for his cattle. Hasan previously had 32 cattle three years ago and lost 25 to poverty death and wildlife preying and currently has 7 cattle, i.e., 4 cows and 3 oxen. Hasan committed one hectare for fodder crop production with a belief to spend more time with his family as well as adequately discharging his village head duties. The Activity explained to farmers who reported losing cattle predators that fodder production is the first step in addressing the challenge as all other human to wildlife conflict mitigation activities hinge on successful fodder production. beneficiaries. As part of its commercialization drive, FARM is targeting to increase the average herd size to 12; improve and maintain animal body condition above 3.0; improve calving rates to above the national average rate of 30 percent; improve the milk yield and carcass quality by infusing appropriate genetics; and reduce herd morbidity and mortalities through the promotion of good herd health regimes. In Chipinge district, beef-dairy farmers who are milking beef cows and producing about 2 liters per day per cow were encouraged to improve their breeds through use of quality bulls, adoption of AI, and/or purchases of quality replacement animals, heifers, cows, bulls, or calves. Five breeding centers with access to well fenced off paddocks for animal seclusion, water and other cattle handling facilities were identified in Chipinge for AI demonstrations. The FARM Activity is promoting goat production for smallholder farmers in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts as both areas have great comparative advantages to small livestock production. Goats tend to thrive on their scavenging ability and on the natural rangeland, which is predominantly shrubland with limited sweet rangeland grasses. As a climate smart value chain that provides low capital outlays, the goat enterprise is also gender friendly. In addition, the Activity will use goat production to meet smallholder farmers’ household nutritional requirements through the consumption of goat meat and milk. The Activity has identified that the use of improved genetics from goat breeds such as Kalahari Reds, Saneen, Matabele, and Boer goats will improve the goat sizes hence meat yields and returns from the goats. Currently, goat sizes in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts are small, averaging 50 kilograms live-weight due to widespread inbreeding that has occurred over a long time. FARM is targeting to improve the live weights by 40 percent to 70 kilograms per animal. FARM is also promoting appropriate handling facilities such as goat pens (properly sited on well drained soils and with the recommended allowable spaces per goat); paddocks -planted with browse species4, drought tolerant grasses and legume species5; feeding and watering troughs. The FARM Activity is also promoting small grains including sorghum and pearl millet to increase feed supply for chickens, beef cattle, and goats. In Chiredzi district all the 20 fodder demonstration plots established have sorghum as one of the main crops. Farmers were encouraged to grow enough fodder to cover requirements of both cattle and goats during the lean season. Good animal husbandry practices The Activity in collaboration with private sector partners and relevant government stakeholders including AGRITEX and DVS carried out trainings on GAPs, GAHPs, and business development skills. Trainings on GAPs and GAHPs covered broad aspects of cattle nutrition (fodder production, principles
4 Acacia, Faidhebia, mulberries 5 Cenhrus, Brachieria, Cassia and Stylosanthes
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 of appropriate cattle feeding, and supplementary feeding); good herd health practices (focusing on the provision of primary animal health care including dipping, dosing, vaccinations, use of PERSUARP compliant and registered chemicals; and general disease identification, prevention and treatment); herd improvement (covering breeding plans, cattle genetics, bull selection and AI); and general herd management practices (weighing, castration, dehorning, calf rearing, paddocking, and rangeland management). Farmers in focus areas were proactively inquiring and receiving technical assistance messages from the FARM personnel through WhatsApp, voice calls, SMS, Cattle feeding at Chikomwe cattle feedlot in Chipinge, and group text messaging. Manicaland. A total of 82 farmers (50 percent women, 17 h d h l percent youth) were trained on good animal husbandry practices in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts during the review period. Cattle diseases identification, prevention, and control The provision of primary animal health care is crucial in reducing herd morbidity, mortalities and increasing cattle production and productivity. FARM in collaboration with DVS and private sector partners such as Veterinary Services Distributors, Technical Veterinary Service, and Fivet advised farmers on common cattle disease identification, prevention, and control. The focus was on building the capacity of the farmers to identify and prevent general ailments such as tick-borne diseases, lumpy skin disease, Brucellosis, Anthrax, foot and mouth, Newcastle diseases in poultry, respiratory diseases in goats and sheep; and botulism, which are endemic to the Activity focus areas. Disease treatment using PERSUAP compliant and registered veterinary drugs was recommended. Behavior change is critical for farmers to embrace routine cattle vaccination to prevent livestock diseases such as foot and mouth, Anthrax, Botulism, lumpy skin disease, Brucellosis, and Newcastle. In Chipinge district, 40 beneficiaries from wards 3 and 4 purchased 160 milliliters of lumpy skin vaccine for their herds. These farmers had also benefitted from a government vaccination campaign that saw 8,000 cattle from wards 3, 5, 16, and 20 vaccinated against foot and mouth, and Anthrax during the review period. Lumpy skin, foot and mouth, and Anthrax diseases are endemic to Chipinge district. Dipping and deworming With January disease (Theileriosis) outbreak across the country, the Activity encouraged beneficiaries to dip their cattle at farm level using knapsack sprayers and/or appropriate PERSUAP compliant chemicals. Beneficiaries were encouraged to procure dipping chemicals in groups or through their village aggregators to reduce the transaction costs. Farmers in Chipinge were buying acaricides and de-wormers from Vet-Distributors and Fivet in Chipinge. During the review period, 55 farmers purchased 7 liters of Albendazole, which is a broad spectrum for farm level deworming against internal parasites such as flukes, tapeworms, round worms, and bankrupt worms. The 7 liters dewormed about 250 cattle. Fodder production Fodder refers to any agriculture feed given to animals either as forage or as cut feed that is carried to them. Fodder production is the system of producing animal feed through planting, management, harvesting, and utilization. During the period under review, the Activity established fodder demonstration plots as training hubs to showcase GAPs in fodder production (land preparation, planting rates, fertilization, intercropping, trellising), and the GAHPs in cattle nutrition (fodder flow planning and cattle feeding) in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts. Different fodder crops well adapted to
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 the focus areas were showcased and these included velvet beans, forage sorghum, lablab, pearl millet, silage maize, sunn hemp, and multi-purpose trees. FARM is promoting the adoption of pearl millet and sorghum as these are drought tolerant and can provide food for both humans and livestock. FARM partnered with Zadzamatura, and local forage seed growers from the FTFZ-LD program to improve the access of forage seed to beneficiaries. Ten FTFZ-LD program forage seed growers sold 1 ton of velvet beans, 500 kilograms of forage sorghum, and five kilograms of sunn hemp to other farmers in Chipinge and Chiredzi district. In Chiredzi district, 20 dryland fodder demonstration plots were established in collaboration with AGRITEX and seed company Zadzamatura, hosted and managed by 20 lead farmers (10 women, 5 youth). Each lead farmer established 0.8 hectares, including 0.2 hectares of Macia sorghum fodder in addition to 0.6 hectares of other fodder varieties such as velvet beans, sunn hemp and cow Martha Hanyanisi in her sorghum peas. The sorghum seed is a dual variety that can be used demonstration plot at Chibuwe irrigation for both human consumption and livestock feeding. scheme.
FARM underpins the production of adequate and quality fodder as the starting point for improved livestock production (cattle, sheep, and goats). From the FARM baseline report 2020, most farmers reported losing cattle to poverty deaths and long calving intervals, fodder production is the first step in dealing with these challenges. In Ward 11, Chiredzi district, some internal saving and lending groups agreed to help develop goat production and marketing groups. The groups explained that they are not getting the expected number of kids per year from their goats and hope supplementary feeding with nutritious fodder will help improve the situation. In Chipinge district, FARM had facilitated the successful establishment of 60.5 hectares of fodder crops as at the end of the review period by 64 beneficiaries (52 percent women), including 16 demonstration plots, hosted by 13 women and 3 men, covering 8 hectares. Fodder crops planted include velvet beans, sorghum, silage maize, sunn hemp, millet, and lablab. Martha Hanyanisi, one of the lead farmers hosting the fodder demonstration plots is expecting to harvest more than 2 tons of fodder from the plot for her six cows. The Activity beneficiaries who planted fodder crops had their hopes revived after receiving significant rains averaging 70 millimeters and 220 millimeters in November and December 2020, respectively. Low to no cost feeds supplementary feeding A mature cow needs at least 5 kilograms of feed and more than 80 liters of water per day as supplementary feeding. When FARM field activities commenced in October 2020, cattle deaths reports were received from wards 1, 26 and 29 of Chipinge district. Farmers were advised to harvest Faidherbia albida pods along rivers such as Save and Tanganda, sausage tree fruits and Chipinge vines for cattle supplementary feeding. Farmers in irrigation schemes were advised to purchase molasses for feed formulations at one part molasses four parts water and mix with crop stover for cattle supplementary feeding. Molasses is a good energy source and maize stover has exceptionally low energy but with high roughage. Forty farmers bought at least 20 liters each of molasses sufficient to save about 200 cows and heifers as it was the beginning of the calving and breeding season. About 10 farmers from wards 1 and 4 collected 3 tons of sugar cane trash from Rating Sugar Cane Estate to supplementary feed their herds.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
Apart from providing feedlot feeds on loan, Montana Carswell Meats loaned 5,000 kilograms of supplementary feed to 20 farmers at Chikomwe and Deruko feedlots for use as supplementary feed for cattle that were not inducted for pen fattening. The loans were repaid from feedlot proceeds. Other farmers adopted cattle pen fattening as a way of saving value to their cull cattle, that could succumb to poverty. Milk hygiene In preparation of the resumption of seasonal marketing of milk in Chipinge district, farmers received training on good hygienic milk practices and improved household hygiene during the review period. FARM is working closely with processor Dairibord Zimbabwe Limited and the government regulator Dairy Services to ensure farmers meet and adhere to standards for raw milk marketing. The standards include milking parlors having hand washing stations with detergents to wash hands before milking; the milker bathing first before milking and ensure all his or her clothes are clean; minimum flies around the milking parlor; cleaning of the parlor with running water after milking; washing milking utensils in hot water with a detergent, sanitized, and dried; before milking, the cow-udder should be cleaned with warm water and dried; and toilets to be constructed 50 meters away from the milking parlors. Milk producers received technical assistance on minimizing contamination from the following sources: 1. Milker: hands, clothes, and ill health 2. Cow udder 3. Water 4. Storage: milk cans and during transportation 5. Flies 6. Diseases such mastitis
Fly traps were set up at every upgradable milking shed to reduce infestation around the milking parlors. Cattle breed improvement Five cattle breeding / AI centers were identified during the review period and are under construction and renovation. The AI centers are at Tanganda, Kondo, Manesa, Deruko, and Manzvire in Chipinge district. The centers have about 25 farmers with 70 cows to be inseminated. The centers were established after discovering that AI in rural areas needs proper infrastructure, proper heat detection and suitable protocols. Farmers were advised to mobilize $100 per cow for insemination. Fifteen farmers who participated in pen fattening during the review period from Deruko and Kondo sites have set aside the resources required for AI. The Activity is partnering with Veterinary Technical Services to develop a viable AI value chain to improve the access to AI services and service providers by smallholder farmers. This will also reduce the cost of the service as well as improve the timeliness of the service provision and the success rates of AI among the smallholder farmers. 3.3 BUSINESS AND FINANCE ACTIVITIES
In December 2020, the recruitment of the Business and Finance Officer for Chiredzi district was completed. During the review period, FARM had high level engagements with four financial institutions namely Steward Bank, MicroPlan Financial Services, Nurture Capital, and the Zimbabwe Agricultural Development Trust (ZADT). Besides providing financial services, partners such as ZADT and Steward Bank have potential to deliver financial literacy trainings to complement FARM activities. The engagement resulted in mutual understanding including the need for the financial institutions to refine their products and services to suit the requirements of smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs. These engagements will be formalized through Non-Disclosure Agreements and MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) in the Quarter 2 FY2021. At district level in Chipinge, FARM scanned for local private sector partners in the district and updated the list of potential private sector
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 partners at the district level. The strategy is to engage private sector partners and subcontractors at districts (local) and national levels in line with value chains being promoted. At field level, FARM personnel provided training and technical assistance on business skills to 325 farmers (48 percent women) to help them run their farms as businesses and identify long term opportunities for earning additional income. Farmers were trained on four broad areas of entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, on-farm investment, and off-farm income activities. The training aims to develop farmers' skills in: ● Enterprise budgeting; recordkeeping; group marketing; market intelligence; and electronic banking which are necessary in improving beneficiaries’ planning and decision-making abilities. ● Credit management, group lending, banking procedures, and electronic banking which ensure timely loan repayments thus facilitating the beneficiaries’ access to finance and building of good credit histories. ● Contract management: To minimize defaulting and thus build credit histories, farmers with formal agreements with abattoirs were trained on contract specifications to raise awareness of their contractual obligations. ● Investment planning and savings management to ensure farmers set aside resources for growing their farming businesses. Increased investment is the predominant source of economic growth.
3.4 IMPROVING NUTRITION AND HYGIENE STATUS
Improved nutrition and hygiene are integral components of the FARM Activity. During the period under review, 296 unique beneficiaries (50 percent women) were trained in maternal infant and young child nutrition and feeding (MIYCF) and good WASH practices. Farmers were encouraged to produce and utilize nutritious foods for household consumption, practice exclusive breastfeeding, as well as good infant and young child feeding methods. Good hygiene Youthful farmer, Mandhlazi Moses from Chipinge district and sanitation practices, linked to nutrition showcasing part of his household nutrition garden section with outcomes, were also promoted. Activities tomatoes. and progress toward meeting nutrition and Photo credit: Chemonics International hygiene outcomes during the review period are summarized below: 3.5.1 Household Dietary Diversity Improved Lack of knowledge on food groups and in choosing food groups with one’s health in mind; balanced diets; and meal planning contribute to poor household dietary diversity. To augment this gap, FARM developed a Nutrition Training Manual during the review period. The manual explains nutrition sensitive agriculture, and how FARM will make use of both nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions to mainstream nutrition with its technical deliveries. Nutrition specific and sensitive interventions will address immediate, underlying, and basic causes of malnutrition thus, ensuring both food and nutrition security among beneficiary farmers. The manual is a reference book for field-based
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
staff to provide training and technical assistance on 1,000 days approach, maternal and infant nutrition, dietary diversity, and meal planning.
Trainings were conducted in Chipinge district among120 beneficiaries, 54 percent women, to increase knowledge and awareness of the 10 food groups6, the different nutrients they provide, and the functions of these nutrients in the body. In addition, farmers were encouraged to increase their milk consumption frequency as part of improving their dietary diversity. Farmers were also advised to establish and grow a variety of fruit trees and vegetables in particular bananas, carrots, avocado pears, rape, pineapples, and mangoes (See Textbox 3.5.1: Fruit Trees Adoption – A step towards dietary diversity).
Textbox 3.5.1: Fruit Trees Adoption: A Step Toward Dietary Diversity. To encourage consumption of fruits among beneficiary households, the FARM Activity trained farmers on the different fruit trees suitable for their areas, especially the mulberry, which does well in the rainy season and can be used for enhancing both livestock and human nutrition. All beneficiaries raised the issue of termites and lack of water. The FARM Activity then explained the ways of inhibiting the destruction of trees by termites and the use of grey water in watering their trees. The knowledge shared motivated some beneficiaries to take up the planting of mulberry trees. Besides diversifying fruit production for improved availability throughout the year FARM is planning to introduce safe and hygienic fruit drying using low-cost solar dryers starting with readily available fruits such as pumpkins and stringless mangoes.
As the Activity unpacked the nutrition component at Malikango Irrigation scheme, farmers learned that they could use grey water in addition to any available irrigation water sources to sustain their trees during the dry season. Farmers also learned they could use Confidor (Imidacloprid) a chemical that is PERSUAP compliant to effectively control termites. “We had surrendered planting trees because termites are a big challenge. Even fully grown trees have been succumbing to termite attack in this region. We will plant the trees and follow the guidance we have been given as we understand the importance of consuming fruits to stay healthy” said Esther Madyauta. The Activity encouraged farmers to make use of the current rains to establish early maturing fruit trees like mulberry, mango, and paw paw. Long term opportunities to fruit trees production were identified in wards, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, and 25 of Chiredzi district which are in the Save, Runde and Mwenezi river basins where the water table ranges between 10 and 20 meters below ground level increasing opportunities for establishing deep wells and boreholes. Nyangambe Irrigation scheme farmer, Esther Madyauta, established her 10 maiden mulberry tree nursery plants together with a fellow lead farmer at the scheme. They intend to encourage their mentees to take the same initial step. While fruits are rich in Vitamins and help in boosting the immune system, consumption of fruits is very rare as the most common fruit are mangoes which are seasonal meaning there are times in the year when famers’ households do not consume fruits unless they buy.
Fruits are part of the food groups being encouraged in the FARM Activity where beneficiaries are encouraged to incorporate these in their diet to improve dietary diversity. One is supposed to at least consume 5 food groups
During the review period, FARM facilitated the establishment of nine individually managed nutrition gardens with horticultural crops such as tomatoes, okra, spinach, onion, and green leafy vegetables such as pumpkin leaves. These horticultural crops are a good source of vitamins and iron, important for pregnant and lactating women. Excess produce from the nutrition gardens is sold and money realized from these sales is channeled toward the purchase of household commodities such as soap, salt, and cooking oil. Farmers were encouraged to consume and preserve locally available indigenous fruits and vegetables readily available during the rainy season. In season iron-rich vegetables and fruits include blackjack, Amaranthus, nyevhe (Cleome gynandra), and figs. Six nutrition demonstration plots were established to showcase good agronomic practices for producing nutrient dense crops including bio-fortified
6 (1) Grains, roots, tubers, and plantains (2) Pulses (beans, peas, and lentils) (3) Nuts and seeds (4) Milk and dairy products (5) Meat, poultry, and fish (6) Eggs (7) Dark green leafy vegetables (8) Vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables (9) Other vegetables (10) Other fruits
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 orange maize rich in Vitamin A, which is important for immune function, fetal development, and vision (particularly at night). 3.5.2 Adequacy of Diet Improved Most households in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts are mixed farmers with both cropping and livestock. FARM is promoting the whole farm approach, which is premised on diversification and ensuring that each enterprise on the beneficiary’s farm is operating effectively and efficiently (See Textbox 3.5.2: Chiredzi Authorities and Farmers Embrace Whole Farm Approach).
Textbox 3.5.2: Chiredzi Authorities and Farmers Embrace Whole Farm Approach Esther Chitiki, the Chairperson for Rupangwana irrigation scheme in Chiredzi district, was happy with the whole farm approach as it gave her a chance to resuscitate her poultry production enterprise. This comes after Chitiki realized that FARM activities will cement diversification and resilience from economic shocks as both cropping and livestock enterprises will be promoted to contribute significantly to overall farming income and improvement of nutrition and hygiene outcomes. Chitiki reported that she once tried poultry production before but lost 20 Boschveld chickens due to fowl tampans (soft ticks) as she had no idea of the appropriate strategy to combat them. Chiredzi’s District Nutritionist, Mr. Matimbira, showed great interest in the Activity saying it will address some of the key issues affecting nutrition security that he had identified. ‘‘I am happy you have spoken about fortified crops, especially the orange sweet potatoes rich in vitamin A as that is critical in nutrition. I have not seen it being grown in the district, but it will be of great benefit to the communities. There is an opportunity to utilize nutrition gardens during the introductory phase as gardens are usually neglected in summer because horticultural crops will be difficult to grow.’’ During the introductory meetings held during the review period, farmers on irrigation schemes were encouraged to grow nutrient dense crops in addition to diversified livestock production including small stock and poultry. Nutrient dense crops promoted were orange fleshed sweet potato and maize, and bio-fortified sugar beans (NUA45 and NUA674). While increased production will help improve household nutrition, farmers will generate income from produce sales to viable output markets. Most households in Chiredzi district have been failing to establish fruit trees due to the menace of termites and the unavailability of water to sustain the trees especially during the dry season. FARM has identified fruit tree production as an Juliet Chireka from Chipinge district is taking advantage of the opportunity to reach out to the Chiredzi rains to retrofit her already established orange orchard. farmers by promoting and recommending Photo credit: Chemonics International the use of gray water and Confidor (Imidacloprid®), a chemical that is PERSUAP compliant and controls termites (See Textbox 3.5.1 Fruit Trees Adoption: A Step Toward Dietary Diversity). In addition, FARM is encouraging farmers to sink deep wells as the water table in most operational wards is high, about 10 meters below the ground. Initially, farmers are encouraged to use gray water to irrigate their fruit trees while they mobilize resources to invest in deep wells and boreholes. Accessing water will enable the farmers to irrigate more fruit and multipurpose trees. The farmers were encouraged to consider planting stringless mango trees, which are adaptable to the area, rich in Vitamin A, and easily marketable beyond the local area. Farmers were also interested in pawpaw trees, which are also rich in Vitamin A and adaptable to growing conditions in the South Eastern Lowveld.
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3.5.3 Household Hygiene Practices Improved Mainstreaming WASH into agricultural practices promotes improved health, hygiene, and incomes among smallholder farmers. Good health and hygiene reduce unnecessary cash outflows through hospitalization and purchase of medicine for treatment of diarrheal diseases. A healthy household is productive as more time is devoted to farming activities by the members. It is also important to practice good hygiene as it minimizes the spread of beef measles7 in cattle and reduces contamination of milk - significantly reducing farmers’ anticipated incomes. The on-going COVID-19 pandemic has placed the need for personal hygiene and correct waste disposal at the forefront. During the review Hilden Joe stands in front of their newly dug toilet pit. Photo credit: Chemonics International period, 262 farmers (50 percent women) in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts were trained on
Textbox 3.5.3: FARM Activity Trainings and Technical Assistance Trigger Toilet Construction. After years of alternating between open defecation and using their uncle’s toilet, youthful couple Tawanda Gandidzanwa, aged 28, and his wife Hilden Joe, aged 23, from Ward 20 in Chipinge district, have begun work to construct a toilet at their homestead. This development comes after the FARM Activity enlightened the Gandidzanwa family on the importance of proper human waste disposal through latrine construction and proper handwashing using a tippy tap with soap and clean water. The Gandidzanwa family positively responded to the Activity’s message by putting on hold their goat pen construction project, and temporarily diverting resources to dig a toilet pit and layering it with bricks as a first stage of construction. The family is in the process of procuring additional building materials to come up with an upgradable pit latrine, which will later be a complete structure with a vent pipe and roof. Once toilet construction is complete, the Gandidzanwa family plans to resume their goat pen construction project and venture into goat rearing. The couple, which mainly survives on producing and selling tomatoes, green beans, onions, and green mealies, also plans to undertake cattle pen fattening to increase their income earning opportunities hygiene improvement including COVID-19 prevention with key emphasis on hand washing with a detergent, avoiding hand shaking and correct and consistent use of face masks. The need to construct latrines was also emphasized and encouraged for correct human waste disposal and to minimize the incidence of diarrheal diseases. Technical assistance was provided through on-farm visits. Ten homesteads in wards 20 and 22 of Chipinge district received advice on the importance of constructing toilets for improved hygiene and health outcomes. Five of the 10 households provided with the technical assistance have started constructing toilets (See Textbox 3.5.3 – Farm Activity trainings and technical assistance trigger toilet construction).
In Chiredzi district, farmers were encouraged to construct hygiene enabling facilities at irrigation schemes and at their homesteads including toilets, setting up functional hand washing stations (tippy taps) and dishwashing racks.
7 Beef measles in cattle can result in downgrading of the slaughter value of beef carcasses or complete condemnation.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
3.5 SOCIAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE (SBC)
Ensuring behavior change is key in the transformation and resilience building of smallholder farmers as well as organizations/ firms working with the FARM Activity. The strategy is to identify and reinforce positive behaviors and social cultural norms that increase on-farm and off-farm production and productivity; improve nutrition and WASH outcomes.
FARM acknowledges that the starting point is behavior change among its staff, hence conducted a team building behavior change webinar on the 17th of December 2020. The webinar, which was facilitated by Another Option LLC, covered basic SBC terminologies, theories, roles, and application of SBC in the FARM Activity. Attended by 28 FARM personnel, the webinar triggered active discussions on determinants of behaviors among FARM beneficiaries. Cultural norms were cited as one of the key determinants, particularly around production, productivity, and marketing of high value agricultural produce, as well as adoption of key behaviors for improved nutrition and WASH outcomes.
Another Option LLC continued to provide its leadership to the FARM team in developing the Activity’s SBC strategy. A road map for producing the SBC strategy for FARM was developed during the review period and include among others: ● An all staff training on Designing for Behavior Change – the training is meant to provide FARM staff with skills for conducting research and data collection to inform the development of the SBC strategy. Involvement of all staff in the research and data collection ensures ownership of both the process and final SBC strategy. ● Conducting a barrier analysis to determine barriers and enablers of behaviors as part of the formative studies to inform the SBC strategy. ● Identifying the theories of change, relevant to the FARM context, that will underlie the SBC strategy. ● Compiling the actions/ interventions that FARM will do in conjunction with the beneficiaries and identified audiences to bring about the desired behavior changes. This will include adapted models for FARM that specify determinants of behaviors and the required interventions to bring about the desired change.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 4. NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN AND WILDLIFE CONFLICT
The FARM Activity seeks to promote strategies that help beneficiary farmers cope with climate change and ensure environmental sustainability as well as mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. During the period under review, interventions promoted among 251 beneficiaries (51 percent women) include but were not limited to tree and fodder planting; rangeland management; safe use of chemicals and safe disposal of chemical containers; fly control; and soil conservation. In addition, the Activity learned about some of the causes of human-wildlife conflicts and began to address them in a participatory manner. Key highlights of the Activity's environmental management interventions during the review period are summarized below. Tree planting The FARM Activity encouraged farmers in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts to take advantage of the current rainy season to plant multipurpose trees and fodder. Some of the uses include medicinal; fodder for livestock; soil erosion and wind control; timber; and firewood. During the review period, 56 farmers planted 440 trees at and around their homesteads as well as maintenance on already established orchards and woodlots in the two districts. The tree species planted include but were not limited to; mulberry, Leucaena, acacia, Faidherbia, oranges, lemon, mango, avocados, pawpaw, mopane, bananas, musau (Sclerocarya birrea) and macadamia nuts.
In Chipinge district, farmers also embarked on weeding and pruning already established orchards, woodlots, and plantations.
In Chiredzi district, 64 beneficiaries (56 percent women), including lead farmers, from Nyangambe irrigation scheme, villages 3 and 5 of Ward 23 received technical assistance on the importance of growing multipurpose trees to increase the productivity of their cattle, goats, poultry, and nutrition of household members. As a follow-on from the technical assistance, two lead farmers planted 10 mulberry cuttings each as a demonstration to their mentored farmers. The farmers have set an initial target for each farmer to plant 10 multipurpose and nutrient dense trees around their homesteads before the end of the 2020/2021 rainy season and to replicate this for the next five years.
Rotational overnight/ moveable pens In general, farmers in Chipinge and Chiredzi districts have single overnight livestock pens. In most instances these pens are overcrowded and become overwhelmed with mud during the rainy season. Muddy conditions increase the incidence of foot rot in livestock, and this negatively affects their production and productivity. The other problem associated with muddy pens is that some animals are forced to spend the whole night standing and lie down to rest during the day, which reduces grazing time. To minimize the incidences of foot rot among livestock, FARM is promoting the adoption of the three cross-sectional overnight pens by livestock beneficiaries. During the review period, the Activity advised farmers from Nyangambe irrigation scheme and Ward 23 in Chiredzi district on the urgent need to have rotational pens as the soils in these areas are heavy and therefore poorly drained. With the ground being even in some residential areas, it is difficult to find elevated areas, where drainage would be better, nearer to homesteads. Although the 2020/2021 rainy season was just starting, mud had already accumulated in most pens. Fifteen farmers have started preparations to construct three cross-sectional pens. Albeit the Activity recommends pens to be sited on the leeward side and 30 meters away from homesteads for hygienic purposes, farmers in Chipinge district have reported that having cattle infrastructures away from homesteads exposes their livestock to theft hence the cattle pens should be closer to people.
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Rangeland management Overstocking has resulted in rampant overgrazing in most targeted operational wards leading to bare rangelands observed in both Chiredzi and Chipinge districts during the review period. Consequently, cattle from wards closer to Save River in both districts were scavenging along Save where they were exposed and prone to crocodile attacks. Chiredzi district farmers testified losing cattle to poverty deaths over the years with little action to address this. In Chipinge district, cattle body condition scores were ranging between 1 and 2.5 with isolated cases of cattle succumbing to poverty deaths as well. This was due to a lack of supplementary feeding at a time when the rangeland was bare, and trees were still leafless. Some of the wards in Chiredzi were characterized by patches of the real fan palm, which is a perennial, hardy, and unpalatable plant whose growth in the area was aggressively suppressed by cattle browsing on it out of desperation during the lean season.
Textbox 4.1: Fodder Production – Mitigation to Perennial Overgrazing. The FARM Activity introduced fodder production in Chiredzi to reduce pressure on the rangelands that farmers will use as supplementary feeding during the lean season. Chiredzi’s seasonal rangeland is characterized by the sweet varieties, such as Bracharia, with fast growth rates and farmers were encouraged to cut and preserve grass growing on field edges, boundaries and other areas that are not available for livestock grazing during the growing season. The Activity encouraged farmers to cut the grass upon flowering to allow it to regrow for two to three more cuts in a season. Diana Hahlana and her husband Clement Chigumba, welcomed the prospects of reviving their livestock herd following the loss of 15 cattle over the past five years due to poverty deaths, theft, and wild animal attacks. The couple were excited to learn about fodder production and immediately committed 1 hectare to produce velvet bean, sunn hemp, and sorghum fodder crops for their current herd of six cattle. “Cattle poverty deaths will be a thing of the past now,” said Chigumba. Livestock production interventions under the FARM activity will be premised on the whole farm and market driven approaches to ensure increased on-farm production and productivity, improved food security and household nutrition, increased incomes, and hence improved resilience among the smallholder farmers.
To mitigate the rangeland management issues, the FARM Activity provided farmers with training and technical assistance on the importance of supplemental feeding to reduce pressure on the rangelands. The Activity encouraged farmers to plant fodder crops, trees, and pastures in designated paddocks in addition to harvesting and stockpiling nutritious pods and hay from the rangelands and field boundaries (See Textbox 4.1: Fodder Production – Mitigation to Perrenial Overgrazing). Four farmers in Chipinge district have taken heed of the advice and introduced Star and In October 2020, beef-dairy farmer Maidei Rambo from Ward 4 in Bana grass in their designated Chipinge district, planted star grass in her designated calf paddock to paddocks. reduce soil erosion and run off. Her calves will benefit through grazing the nutritious grass. Soil erosion control Photo credit: Chemonics International Deforestation and soil erosion, both in the fields and rangelands is rampant across most of FARM’s targeted operational areas. In Chipinge district, the effects of erosion are evident through siltation of rivers such as the Changadzi, Musani, Save, Tanganda, Nyunga and other small streams apart from rills and gullies.
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During the review period, FARM unpacked Textbox 4.2: Beneficiaries adopt climate smart diverse ways of controlling soil erosion within interventions to combat infield soil erosion. fields, rangelands, roadsides, paddocks, and in Moreblessing Mbandidzo is one of the 10 farmers from pastures to 67 farmers. Twenty farmers from Chipinge district who embraced intercropping to control Chipinge district used diverse ways as trained and reduce soil erosion in their field. Intercropping by the Activity to control erosion including sorghum and lablab also makes sorghum take advantage the use of intercropping and mulching in their of nitrogen fixation by lablab, a legume that increases soil fields; conservation farming - the pfumvudza fertility. concept; planting cactus and aloe vera Masiiwa Takundwa in Ward 4, Victoria Pencil in Ward 29, along field boundaries; packing rocks and Linah Mehlo in Ward 3, and Rosina Sithole in Ward 29 all sandbags along roadsides; planting vetiver from Chipinge district have embraced the pfumvudza grass along water ways and star grass in concept in establishing their fodder crops. The concept is paddocks and pastures (See Textbox 4.2: hinged on minimum soil disturbance and soil cover to Beneficiaries adopt climate smart interventions to combat infield soil erosion). In Ward 11, Chiredzi district, FARM noted malpractices on environmental management where farmers were ploughing down the slopes and there is rampant soil erosion and severe land degradation. Farmers testified that they were unaware of the practice’s adverse impact on the environment and were advised to plough across the slope. Farmers hosting sorghum fodder demonstration plots were trained on the best ways to incorporate conservation agriculture in their cropping activities by planting their sorghum using the same spacing as for maize (75cm x 60cm) but planting 10 seeds per station for thinning to six once the crop is fully established. Farmers were advised to plant velvet beans adopting the same spacing as the residual nitrogen that will be left by velvet beans will benefit the succeeding cereal crop. With mulch availability being a challenge, farmers were advised to mulch their fields gradually with invasive and undesirable plants that grow naturally during the rainy season. A sorghum and velvet bean or sorghum and cowpeas sub demonstration plot was introduced to show farmers ways of substituting mulch with cover crops. Safe use of chemicals and safe disposal of chemical containers During the review period, 171 farmers (51 percent women) were trained on the safe use of chemicals and safe disposal of chemical containers all from Chipinge district. Seventy-six farmers (54 percent women) also received technical assistance on the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as overalls, gum boots and gloves. The Activity trained farmers hosting irrigated demonstration plots in all operational schemes in Chiredzi district on the importance of paying attention to pesticides selection. FARM suggested farmers use highly effective PERSUAP- William Pachiti from Ward 4 in Chipinge, wearing personal protective clothing while controlling fall army worm using PERSUAP- compliant chemicals such as Emamectin compliant pesticide Dash in his orange maize plot. Benzoate. At Tshovani irrigation scheme Photo credit: Chemonics International
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 in Ward 3, the Activity observed that farmers had abandoned the good cultural practice of destroying cotton stalks at the end of each cropping season. The cultural practice reduces the reliance on pesticide use as it ensures pests do not overwinter in stalks. Cotton stalks, which are supposed to be cut and burnt by August each year, were still standing in most fields in November 2020. In Chipinge district, 40 lead farmers who Cotton stalks still standing at Tshovani irrigation scheme in were part of the group trained on safe use Jackson Village, Ward 3 of Chiredzi district. Photo credit: Chemonics International of chemicals have since adopted the use of PPE, PERSUAP-compliant chemicals, and proper disposal of containers after use. Monitoring and continued technical assistance are required as peak pest infestations are anticipated to ensure continued compliance. During the field visits, FARM personnel encountered 10 farmers spraying against fall armyworm and cutworms using PERSUAP compliant pesticides and in recommended PPE. The Activity also advised farmers to rinse thoroughly, burn, and bury used chemical containers as a way of proper disposal.
Fly control The Activity trained farmers on the use of home-made fly traps, especially in dairy areas, wards 1, 3 and 4 of Chipinge district. Twenty farmers have erected fly traps around their dairies with resumption of deliveries to processors in Chipinge town. Human and wildlife conflict resolution In Chiredzi district, the Activity used the introductory meetings with beneficiaries to map out areas with human and wildlife conflicts and identified three operational corridors whose proximity to game parks or conservancies is explained below. The Chilonga to Nyangambe corridor stretches from Chiredzi into Gonarezhou National Park where Ward 11 shares its boundary with Gonarezhou National Park. The Nyangambe cluster in Ward 23 shares its boundary with Nyangambwe Wildlife Community Conservancy, which is part of Save Valley Conservancy. The Rupangwana to Gudo corridor has four irrigation schemes across wards 1, 2, 3, 4, and 25. Ward 1 at the northern end shares its boundary with Save Valley Conservancy while Ward 4 at the southern end shares its boundary with Gonarezhou National Park. Livestock and crops along these corridors are prone to wildlife (lions, elephants, hyenas, partridges and quelea birds) attacks. Large game is usually a threat in the dry season, as they easily cross the porous boundary fence into the communities. Hyenas are a constant threat to goats and cattle. Lack of supplementary feeding led farmers to graze their livestock near conservancies and sometimes inside conservancies where farmers can damage or even steal perimeter fences to let their cattle into the conservancies. Farmers were encouraged to grow adequate fodder for their cattle and goats to minimize the use of conservancy or game parks for grazing especially during the lean season. Farmers were also encouraged to keep their livestock in overnight pens during the night. Farmers at Nyangambe irrigation scheme in Chiredzi district, had for so many years failed to successfully grow small grains because of quelea birds. Thus, production of sorghum and pearl millet for fodder faced resentment from women and children as they were responsible for driving off the birds for the entire day. FARM advised the farmers that fodder sorghum or millet can be harvested early at the onset of seeding so that birds will no longer be a challenge. In Chipinge district, meetings were conducted with farmers bordering the Save Conservancy, that is wards 1, 3, 16, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, and 29 to identify areas of conflict with wildlife. Farmers were grazing their livestock in the conservancy, especially during the dry season, and had vandalized fences
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 at several places to facilitate this. Farmers reported that they occasionally lose livestock, crop, and human life to wildlife such as lions, buffaloes, elephants, and crocodiles. Elephants and buffaloes occasionally damage crops in wards 3, 20, 22, 24, and 29. Crocodiles attack livestock and people who get water or cross the Save River to access the conservancy. From the discussions, corroborated by National Parks, farmers reported that on average 100 cattle and 10 people are attacked or killed by crocodiles yearly, and more than four people lose lives to lions and buffaloes every year. Both irrigation and dryland crops are being affected by buffaloes and elephants, with irrigation schemes being affected more, as they have green crops throughout the year. Buffaloes also cause harm to hooved livestock as they spread foot and mouth disease. The damages are severe in the dry season when the animals move out of the park seeking greener pastures. More than, 5,000 households share a 100-kilometer boundary with wildlife conservancies and national parks. The shortage of grazing land is the main source of the human wildlife conflict in both Chiredzi and Chipinge districts. In addition, farmers have pulled down the boundary and security fences at several points to increase access into the game parks by both cattle and humans.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 5. GENDER AND YOUTH The FARM Activity works to advance gender equality and positive youth development (PYD) by empowering smallholder women and youth farmers to gainfully participate in higher value crops and livestock enterprises. The Activity's entry point is to facilitate that both women and youths gain access, control, and ownership of productive economic resources such as land, livestock, financing, among others. The FARM approach integrates gender and youth inclusion principles in all trainings, technical assistance, and cross cutting activities. FARM places special emphasis on addressing gender and youth issues and constraints in accessing farm inputs, credit, technology, information, markets, training, and leadership opportunities. During the review period, FARM joined the global community in raising awareness on 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) among staff members and beneficiary farmers. One virtual training was conducted on GBV concepts with staff members and field activities facilitated platforms for farmers to discuss the adverse effects and cost of GBV at household, community, and nation level. In Chiredzi district, Marita Chisi participating during the 16 Masvingo province, female farmer Marita Chisi said, “We welcome output Days of Activism Against Gender Based and input market linkages, and we believe they are our key to growing Violence campaign. viable crops like horticultural crops, which we can sell multiple times in a Photo Credit: Chemonics International year and earn more incomes for our families. More incomes and transparency will end GBV.” During the review period, gender, and youth inclusion interventions reached 171 farmers, of which 58 percent were women farmers (Table 5.1). The FARM Activity interventions mainstreamed farming as a family business (FAAFB), gender concepts, women and youth empowerment and gender-based violence awareness messages in technical and cross cutting activities. Table 5.1: Unique farmers trained in Gender and Youth subjects - October- December 2020 Subjects Female Male Total % Women Chipinge 67 58 125 54 Chiredzi 32 14 46 70 Total 99 72 171 58 Source: CIRIS
5.1 GENDER AND YOUTH IMPACT
The FARM Activity monitors progress toward gender and youth inclusion targets using sex and age disaggregated data from indicators and four gender and youth specific indicators. In addition, the empowerment and inclusion of women and youth in FARM agricultural activities are tracked focusing on the five domains of the Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) of technical knowledge, leadership, assess to economic resources, access to productive resources, and time allocation. ● FARM 15: Percentage of female beneficiaries in leadership positions. ● GNDR-2: Percentage of female participants in USG-assisted programs designed to increase access to productive economic resources. ● YOUTH-1: Number of youths at risk of violence trained in social or leadership skills through USG assisted programs (10-29 years). ● YOUTH-3: Percentage of participants in USG-assisted programs designed to increase access to productive economic resources who are youth (15-29 years).
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5.2 TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
FARM promotes FAAFB to foster a commercial mindset in smallholder farmers and to ensure women and youth meaningful involvement in economic agricultural activities. FARM deliberately targets women and youth with trainings and technical assistance to empower them and improve skills to adopt new agricultural technologies aimed at increasing production, productivity, and incomes. The Activity ensures participation of women and youth by inviting couples and youths to attend activities and takes into consideration community time-sharing arrangements to schedule trainings and meeting at appropriate times that suit all. The major agricultural activities during the review period were the establishment of demonstration plots in irrigation schemes and on dry land sites as well as pen fattening of cattle to maximize on the festive season. FARM in collaboration with AGRITEX and private sector agricultural input companies, set-up women and youth managed demonstration plots and integrated gender and youth themes in trainings, technical assistance, and information dissemination on GAPs, GAHPs, business skills, and climate smart agriculture. During the period under review, 49 percent, and 13 percent of the 348 farmers who benefitted from FARM interventions were women and youth, respectively. 5.3 LEADERSHIP
Leadership is the ability to influence; to get the right things done at the right time. The FARM Activity works to bridge the gap between women’s major contributions to agricultural production and productivity, and their limited leadership and decision making in agricultural production and value chains. The Activity engages with males to build acceptance of women leadership in agriculture and deliberately targets women and youth farmers with trainings and technical assistance in leadership, negotiation, business, and entrepreneurial skills development to build a base of women and youth leaders who can make and influence positive and transformative decisions in production, marketing and finance starting from the home and to the community. Female leaders are either lead farmers hosting centers of excellence or hold office within farmer groups (pen fattening groups, and producer associations) or entrepreneurs such as beef/ milk aggregators. In Chipinge district, Manicaland province, 13 of the 16 farmers (81 percent) hosting demonstration
Text Box 5.1: Training of Trainers Workshop Sets Female Lead Farmers for Profitable Maize Production. The FARM Activity, in collaboration with AGRITEX, held the first training of trainers for 19 beneficiaries, 42 percent of whom were women while 11 percent were youth at Musikavanhu B and Chibuwe irrigation schemes in Chipinge district, Manicaland. For the attainment of optimum outcomes, the training incorporated irrigation and water management committee members for both schemes as they influence the schemes’ operations. The farmers received training on good agricultural practices (GAPs) focusing on planting up to the first application of top dressing for profitable maize production. Topics covered include timeous planning of when to purchase inputs, land preparation, proper basal and top-dressing fertiliser application, optimum planting dates, proper irrigation, optimum plant population per hectare, appropriate time of weeding, integrated pest and disease management including use of PERSUAP compliant chemicals, good environmental stewardship through safe use and disposal of chemicals as well as good recordkeeping. As lead farmers, these beneficiaries were trained to share, and transfer knowledge and skills learned with about 420 other farmers at Chibuwe and Musikavanhu irrigation schemes.
sites of fodder, horticulture and staple crops for the 20/21 agriculture season are women. Similarly, in Chiredzi district, Masvingo province 11 of the 20 farmers (55 percent) hosting crop demonstrations are women. Out of the 36 fodder, maize, and nutrition demonstration plots established across Chiredzi and Chipinge districts during the quarter, 28 (78 percent) are hosted by women. (See Textbox 5.1 and Annex 1: Women Dominate Demonstration Plots Hosting in Social Inclusion Redress).
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5.4 PRODUCTIVE ECONOMIC RESOURCES
Smallholder farmers play a critical role in agricultural systems, but their success is often limited by barriers to accessing adequate productive economic resources. The situation for women and youth farmers is further exacerbated by gender-specific income barriers including discriminatory social norms, limited decision-making and restricted access to resources and services. FARM recognizes women and youth as a key target group for investment in trainings and agricultural technical service provision for raising, production, productivity, and incomes. During the review period, FARM linked 35 farmers, 46 percent women, to Montana Carswell Meats to access credit. The farmers accessed $10,488 worth of stockfeed, veterinary drugs, and ear tags on credit under the private sector company’s feeder finance scheme. The farmers inducted 71 cattle split across five feedlots (Kondo, Rimbi, Munepasi, Chikono, and Deruko) for 45 days of pen fattening (See Annex 1: Chipinge Feedlot Farmers Rake in $39,000). Although women farmers sold more cattle than men, 42 out of the 71 animals, they got less income. The 42 cattle weighed 5,816 kilograms and were worth $16,592, compared to 29 cattle sold by men that fetched $22,408. This can be attributed to inherent cultural and traditional barriers that often result in women owning more inferior, older, and fewer cattle in the family herd. To address this, FARM is working to ensure all economically active household members participate in all Activity interventions where they can learn good agricultural and business practices to increase the efficiencies of their cattle First-time demo plot host, Faith Sithole from Chibuwe productivity. In addition, FARM deliberately irrigation scheme in Chipinge poses in her maize and green targets women and youth with capacity beans field. building trainings and technical assistance, and information to enhance their skills and empower them to reach their optimum potential in crop and livestock production.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 6. LESSONS LEARNED
● Inception meetings with farmers, IMC and government stakeholders were important in bringing out the challenges facing the smallholder farmers, their experiences, and creating awareness regarding high value crops, cropping calendars, potential business models and potential partnerships all of which helped in co-creating solutions that fed into the FARM programming. ● The COVID-19 induced lockdown has changed the way agricultural extension is being conducted to virtual processes in using telephones, WhatsApp, bulk SMS, and the internet. Smallholder farmers are adopting ICT and are sending in their requests for information to field technicians as well as receiving technical and marketing information, pictures, voice messages, and videos to and from the technicians. There is still scope in promoting a wider usage of these ICT methods to include conference calling to allow field trainings and information sharing in groups among the farmers, technicians, and other GOZ stakeholders. ● Farmer driven cattle breeding strategy is a way to go – farmers who sold their cattle from feedlots are now advocating for AI after discovering that their small-framed cattle paid them about $150 on average; compared to those who had large-framed animals from breeds such as Brahman who got an average of $500 in net income. ● Learning from their previous mistakes and product loses, Activity beneficiaries particularly irrigation farmers, who lost about a quarter of their tomatoes harvest to lack of ready markets, really appreciated the market led approach. The private sector engagement with output buyers informed them on how much to produce, the right quality, the right timing, expected returns and net profits and ample time to plan their activities. A ready and guaranteed market also has the potential to free the farmer’s time, which was wasted in marketing activities thereby increasing on-farm production and productivity. ● Program beneficiaries who dry planted, adopted soil testing, and applied herbicides to their plots are reaping the benefits from the early rains that were received in November 2020 as they saved on the costs of liming their soils, and weeding despite the incessant rains being received. ● Farmers along the Save Conservancy complain of wildlife attacks, despite these farming communities having vandalized the security and electric fence that was meant to confine wildlife. These farmers are now raising alarm to the FARM Activity and National Parks for rescue.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 7. CHALLENGES
As lessons were learned, challenges also became apparent to FARM, which may affect the Activity’s success if not addressed. Some challenges faced included: ● The COVID-19 pandemic affected the launch of the FARM Activity as travel, gatherings, and economic activities were restricted to reduce the spread of the virus. This limited the kickstart and extent of field interventions to only technical assistance – one on one trainings. The Activity technical staff, some beneficiaries, private sector companies, and the relevant GOZ stakeholders adopted virtual methods on interactions, meetings, and trainings. These restrictions remain in place and will likely continue in the next quarter. ● The multi-currency and hyper inflationary environment in Zimbabwe is resulting in the devaluation of most agricultural output and reducing the net returns for Activity beneficiaries. This is reducing the ability and confidence of smallholder farmers to adopt some agricultural production and productivity enhancing technologies that include participation in feedlots, procurement of hybrid seed, crop chemicals, veterinary drugs, and appropriate on-farm equipment. In addition, the economic environment has reduced confidence in the financial sector as banks are not disbursing any loans.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 8. ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR NEXT QUARTER
With more restrictions on movement and gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FARM will miss some of its targets on the number of beneficiaries as well as some interventions listed in the work plan. Notable affected activities include: ● Field based training and technical assistance to farmers: FARM's major technology transfer route is through training and technical assistance through farmer-managed demonstration activities. During the period under review, FARM established 70 farmer-managed demonstration sites showcasing technologies, GAPs and GAHPs in crops, beef, and dairy. Training and technical assistance of beneficiary farmers are conducted around these demonstration sites through farmer field schools, hosting technical and field days to provide farmers with hands on skills and farmer to farmer information exchange. In addition, business relationships and linkages with private sector partners are also facilitated during events held around these demonstration sites as private sector partners co-financed their establishment and are showcasing technologies to conclude purchase agreements and get new orders. Training and technical assistance on dietary diversity, cooking demonstrations and establishment of nutrition gardens and small livestock projects at times require homestead visits and making use of household commodities and utensils to showcase recipes, a balanced plate and meal planning. These activities will be difficult to implement due to the COVID-19 gathering and movement restrictions. This will also affect the beneficiary target numbers. ● Conducting an in-depth and participatory district market/financial services provider scanning and mapping using the Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) methodology to develop institutional –strengthening plan. ● Establishment of technology, GAPs, and GAHPs demonstrations for the winter and lean season: As outlined above establishing farmer managed demonstration sites increases the breadth and depth of the Activity's outreach. Preparations for winter production, which involve horticulture production are done during the coming quarter. Establishing demonstration sites for horticulture production will thus be very limited.
Despite the restrictions cited above, the following technical activities are planned for the coming quarter: Table 8.1: Targeted GAPs, GAHPs and Technology Interventions Practice GAPs, GAHPs and Technologies Targeted Milk hygiene practices Milk handling, milk sheds construction and fly traps Accreditation of new Registering more village milk aggregators for milk delivery to formal market village milk aggregators Cattle marketing Off the rangeland cattle and goats marketing Establishment of Boschveld chickens and rabbit projects for quick turnaround Small stock projects and nutrition Establishment of paddocks, irrigated pastures for those with borehole water, Pasture development and late fodder crops for silage - Establishment of livestock trading accounts for small stock, beef, and dairy cattle. Recordkeeping - For individual cows and for milk; farm enterprise planning; analysis of on- farm records - Milk records Exchange visits Farmer to farmer field visits – observing COVID-19 protocols Major disease diagnosis and prevention - vaccinations, dipping, de-worming, Animal Health and treatment
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
Table 8.1: Targeted GAPs, GAHPs and Technology Interventions Practice GAPs, GAHPs and Technologies Targeted Technical days Virtual technical days (if COVID-19 persists) Breeding Centers (BCs) establishment - Breed improvement through artificial Artificial Insemination insemination Enhancing genetic quality Quality bull and heifer procurement Cut and carry of hay from crop fields, fields boundaries and along rivers and Hay and silage making silage making Post harvesting Construction of hay sheds, hay harvesting and silage making
Crop and livestock Use of cattle, goats, and chicken manure in crop production and use of crop integration stover/ residues in livestock production
Climate smart land Sugar beans and winter crop establishment preparation Soil fertility conservation Correction of soil pH; use of appropriate type and quantity of fertilizer; and management correct timing of fertilizer application; composting Horticulture Onion and carrots demo plots Crop management and Technical days, Improved crop genetics: drought Crop yield improvement tolerant, high yielding, bio-fortified; disease and pest resistant; timeliness of planting
● Nutrition and WASH: FARM will continue to mainstream nutrition and WASH into agricultural activities through: o Increasing the knowledge and capabilities of households to make better use of nutrient dense crops through trainings and technical assistance on Dietary Diversity and Maternal and Infant Young Child Feeding (MIYCF) through technical assistance, trainings and cooking demonstrations. o Establishment of nutrition gardens and small livestock projects to improve dietary diversity. o Promotion of milk consumption through expansion of the FTFZ-LD milk recipe book. o Conducting trainings to improve water use and storage and hygiene. o Supporting the construction and upgrading of sanitation systems at household level.
● Market Linkages: Focus on expanding market access for smallholder beef and dairy products and enhancing farmers’ confidence in seeking market intelligence and lucrative markets. Building on activities to improve competitiveness through facilitating value chain relationships between private sector players and farmers, the Activity will: o Consolidate accreditation of aggregators with Dairy Services and Dairibord Zimbabwe for milk supply/collection arrangements for farmers in lower Chipinge district. o Expand linkages between beef, small livestock farmers and Montana Carswell Abattoirs, Molus Meats, and Sabie Meats. Engage with other smaller cattle buyers and consolidators in Chiredzi district. o Formalize farmers’ production and marketing groups at agribusiness hubs and provide the groups with virtual business development training in constitution making; leadership; negotiation; group input procurement and marketing; farming as a business; recordkeeping; and credit management. ● Business Skills Development: Finalize financial literacy training materials covering areas such a personal finance planning, budgeting, recordkeeping, saving/investment, credit management, business plan or proposal development that will be used to train FARM clients and improve their financial literacy skills. ● Gender: FARM will roll out its gender and youth integration strategy. The strategy outlines activities that expand options and create new opportunities that equally generate income for
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
men and women through targeted interventions. By addressing practical gender needs while recognizing that these will vary across regions, FARM will ensure maximum impact. The strategy will address women-specific challenges in Zimbabwe through the following: o Providing gender appropriate training that involves both men and women. o Promoting a range of commercial opportunities for women within the horticulture, small stock, beef, and dairy sectors. o Encouraging, promoting, and persuading local businessmen and opinion leaders to take an innovative approach within their farms and demonstrate the benefits of an equal decision-making process in livestock management. o Creating and encouraging microenterprise activities with women and youth groups. o Improving nutrition for the whole family. By expanding options and creating opportunities for both men and women, FARM will organically influence social norms and gender roles to improve gender equity among the targeted population. FARM will seek to address constraints posed by customary systems, norms, or social institutions that limit choices, decision making, and relationships. This includes encouraging more equitable control over resources among family members, asset allocation, and improving intra-household relations and reducing domestic conflict. In Quarter 2 FY2021, the FARM Activity will conduct virtual commemorations of International Women’s Day. Physical in-person commemorations will be guided by the prevailing COVID- 19 status. ● Social Behavior Change Strategy (SBC): FARM will finalize its social behavior change strategy during the coming quarter and incorporate SBC methods and approaches into activities. The strategy is informed by research audit and literature review of Zimbabwe/regional SBC and smallholder farmer research, stakeholder consultations, FARM team feedback, USAID priorities and audience social and cultural norms. The strategy outlines interventions and campaigns that will positively change behaviors for increased agricultural production and productivity; taking farming as a business; consuming adequate and nutrient dense diets and establishing sustainable hygienic living environments. ● CLA: Engagement with other USAID programs to collaborate, share learnings, and layer or adapt interventions that result in sustainable incomes and poverty reduction will continue. ● Operational: Following up on MOU with Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, and Rural Resettlement and local authorities.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 9. ANNEX 1: SNAPSHOTS
Chipinge Feedlot Farmers Rake in $39,000
Cattle pen fattening is a lucrative short-term income earning opportunity for smallholder farmers. The FARM Activity, which began in July 2020 and will end in June 2025, is building on and replicating the successes of former Feed the Future programs in Zimbabwe. Among these programs’ past successes, is pen fattening, an intervention that recorded successes under the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program. Pen fattening allows farmers to generate income from their livestock for viable on-farm investments that increase production and productivity in the long-term At the end of December 2020, 35 farmers, 46 percent women, in Chipinge, Manicaland, collectively generated $39,000 in gross income from the sale of 71 pen fattened cattle to Montana Carswell Meats abattoir in Masvingo. The sale comes after farmers received technical assistance and support from the FARM Activity to pen fatten their (Above) Ladson Mubonesi’s cow inducted at cattle over 45 days. The highest paid animal was $809. manufacturing grade at Kondo Feedlot. (Below) During the pen fattening cycle, the FARM Activity trained farmers on different good Mubonesi’s finished cow 45 days after pen animal husbandry practices such as ear tagging, weighing, carcass grading, body fattening. The cow graded commercial. condition scoring, dipping, deworming, and group marketing. In addition, the Activity Photo credits: Chemonics International linked farmers to Montana Carswell Meats, which provided the market for the finished cattle and interest free feed and veterinary drugs on loan worth $10,488 under a feeder finance scheme. Feed and veterinary drugs costs were deducted at the sale point. The 45-day pen fattening window improved carcass grades from the least grade, which is manufacturing, with a value of $1.50 per kilogram to commercial grade valued at $3.25 per kilogram. Ladson Mubonesi, who was a beneficiary under the ended Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program, culled his old cow that was inducted at manufacturing grade. With appropriate good animal husbandry practices such as appropriate feeding regimes during the pen fattening cycle, Mubonesi’s cow improved to commercial grade and earned him $486. The positive gains realized from the pen fattening cycle have inspired FARM beneficiaries to adopt other good animal husbandry practices. First time feedlot participant, Innocent Mbasi, who earned $1,300 from three pen fed cattle that had almost succumbed to drought, has vowed to adopt the Activity’s good animal husbandry practices and lucrative marketing windows for increased incomes. “I have learned the importance of keeping cattle in fair body condition before fattening as they “The feedlot market pays will gain weight effortlessly,” said Mbasi, who plans to invest his proceeds in improved handsomely for quality meat. Cattle cattle breeds. To ensure that his future cattle are inducted in fair condition, Mbasi has established 0.4 hectares of velvet bean fodder for his 12 cattle. that attain mature weight faster Repeat feedlot participants such as Robson Makuyana from Kondo feedlot, are utilizing (under three years) are the most the intervention as a steppingstone to strengthen their livestock enterprises. Makuyana desirable and will keep us in the generated $2,283 in net income after successfully pen fattening four cattle. Makuyana, feedlot business,” together with five other members of his group, have setup a breeding center for breed improvement through artificial insemination using continental breeds such as Robson Makuyana, Simmental, Limousine, Charolaise, and Angus. The group aims to improve the carcass Smallholder beef farmer quality and weight of future feedlot cattle. “The feedlot market pays handsomely for quality meat. Cattle that attain mature weight faster (under three years) are the most desirable and will keep us in the feedlot business,” said Makuyana who has set aside $600 worth of feedlot proceeds for investing in AI. Currently the farmer’s herd comprises of Brahman breed and crosses of indigenous type which mature well after three years, the new breed which the farmers want to achieve mature weights within 24 months.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
The FARM Activity encourages farmers to exploit peak cattle prices during the lean and December festive seasons. Women Dominate Demonstration Plot Hosting in Social Inclusion Redress
Traditionally, social, and cultural norms have suppressed women to take an active lead in crop and livestock production despite women bearing the brunt of all the hard work involved. Consistent with such norms, demonstration plots holding at irrigation schemes, was traditionally patriarchal. In efforts to ensure this social exclusion is redressed, the FARM Activity is deliberately promoting women inclusion in crop and livestock production. As first steps toward the empowering process, female farmers are encouraged to take on lead roles such as hosting demonstration plots. This has seen 28 women selected to host 28 of 36 fodder, maize, and nutrition demonstration Faith Sithole in her maize demonstration plot at plots following successful awareness raising on social inclusion and ways to Chibuwe irrigation scheme. reduce gender-based violence (GBV) among smallholder farming households. Photo credit: Chemonics International The development is attributable to the Activity’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, where more than 100 smallholder farmers in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces received training on the importance of eliminating GBV to increase overall household agricultural productivity. The Activity’s campaign ran under the theme, “Help stop GBV! Violence undermines household production, productivity, incomes, food security and resilience to climatic, economic, and social shocks and stresses.” During the awareness raising trainings, the Activity brought to the discursive fore, the different forms of physical, economic, and social GBV that undermine household production and productivity such as exclusion and denial of economic and social benefits and opportunities; limited access to and control over productive resources; forced and child labor; and socio-cultural violence that includes early and forced marriages. Farmers agreed that including women in leadership positions such as demo plot hosts reduces GBV cases as they will be involved in decision making processes and empowered to participate in “Thank you, FARM for the GAPs market linkages, access to finance, information, and technologies. training and linking me to Green Fuel for my butternuts, I have Thirty-eight-year-old Faith Sithole from Chibuwe irrigation scheme is excited to host a 0.4-hectare maize demonstration plot under varietal demonstration already started planning to invest in with Seed Co. Through the demonstration plot, she hopes to improve her livestock production such as cattle knowledge and skills on good agricultural practices in maize production. In buying and small stock to support addition to the maize demonstration plot, Faith established 0.4 hectares of my crop production.” groundnuts, 0.2 hectares of butternuts and 0.1 hectares of okra for her family’s dietary needs as well as for sale to increase her household income. Faith Sithole, In line with fully supporting smallholder farmers to reach their potential, the Smallholder beef farmer FARM Activity links farmers to lucrative markets for the sale of their produce. The Activity linked Faith to Green Fuel for the absorption of her butternut crop. “Thank you FARM for the GAPs training and linking me to Green Fuel for my butternuts, I have already started planning to invest in livestock production such as cattle buying and small stock to support my crop production,” she said. Faith expects to generate $1,500 from the sale of 5 tons of butternuts at $0.30 per kilogram. The FARM Activity’s positive influence to encourage women inclusion is a welcome initiative that will see a gradual transformative shift toward socially inclusive agricultural practices. With each demonstration plot host set to
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
influence 30 other farmers within their surroundings, Faith and her 27 female peers are set to impact more than 800 farmers.
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020 10. ANNEX 2: ILLUSTRATIVE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Indicator FY 2021 Q1 FY2021 No. Indicator Disaggregate Baseline Source Target Actual Total 0 4,000 348
Number of individuals participating 1 EG. 3-2 Beef 0 - N/A in USG food security programs
Dairy 0 - N/A Overall 76.0 71.0 N/A8 Prevalence of moderate and severe M&F 74.6 - N/A 2 Food Insecurity Experience Scale FARM 1 FNM 86.0 - N/A (FIES) MNF 87.5 - N/A CNA N/A9 - N/A Overall 3.7 3.910 N/A11 M&F 3.7 - N/A Ability to recover from shocks and 3 RESIL-a FNM 3.7 - N/A stresses index MNF 2.9 - N/A CNA N/A - N/A Overall 92 82 N/A13 M&F 93 - N/A Prevalence of Poverty: Percent of 4 FARM 2 FNM 91 - N/A people living on less than $1.90/day12 MNF 63 - N/A CNA - - N/A Overall 60 50 N/A14 M&F 60 - N/A Mean percent shortfall relative to 5 FARM 3 FNM 66 - N/A the $1.90 poverty line MNF 51 - N/A CNA - - N/A Average annual household net Total 557.72 697.15 N/A15 income from agriculture (crop and 6 FARM 4 Agriculture 309.90 387.38 N/A livestock) production, including off- farm income Off-Farm 247.82 309.78 N/A Yields of targeted agricultural EG. 3-10, - 7 commodities among program Milk 2.3 2.5 N/A16 11. -12 participants with USG assistance
8 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 9 Disaggregate not available. Results on CNA households will be reported in outyears and LOA 10 Revised out year targets are set as follows; FY 2022 (4.1), FY 2023 (4.3), FY 2024 (4.5) and FY 2025 (4.7) 11 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 12 This is a high-level indicator. The program intervention is targeted to alleviate poverty among beneficiary farmers. The indicator also directly addresses Bureau of Resilience and Food Security and USAID’s DO1. 13 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 14 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 15 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 16 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
17 Number of hectares of land under Total 0 400 N/A 8 improved management practices or EG. 3.2-25 Male 0 200 N/A technologies with USG assistance Female 0 200 N/A
Number of hectares under improved 18 Total 0 400 N/A management practices or technologies that promote improved 9 EG. 3.2-28 Male 0 200 N/A climate risk reduction and/or natural resources management with USG Female 0 200 N/A assistance Number of individuals in the Total 0 4,000 N/A19 agriculture system who have applied 10 EG. 3.2-24 Male 0 2,000 N/A improved management practices or technologies with USG assistance Female 0 2,000 N/A Number of individuals who have Total 0 4,000 348 received USG supported short 11 FARM 5 Male 0 2,000 177 agricultural sector productivity or food security training Female 0 2,000 171 Number of individuals engaged in off- Total 0 2,000 N/A20
12 farm income production FARM 6 Male 0 1,000 N/A
Female 0 1,000 N/A Value of new USG commitments and private sector investment leveraged Type of 13 EG.3.1-14 0 1,000,000 N/A21 by the USG to support food security investment and nutrition Value of individual investment made 14 in agriculture as a result of USG FARM 16 0 TBD N/A22 assistance 23 Number of individuals who have Overall 0 TBD N/A
15 invested in agriculture as a result of FARM 17 Male 0 N/A
USG assistance Female 0 N/A Total 0 7.5 N/A24 Value of annual sales of producers Beef 0 - N/A 16 EG. 3.2-26 and firms receiving USG assistance Dairy 0 - N/A Crops 0 - N/A Percent of USG-assisted CBLD-9 17 organizations with improved - N/A N/A25 performance Value of agriculture-related financing 18 EG. 3.2-27 0 50,000 N/A26 accessed as a result of USG assistance Number of individuals participating in Overall 0 100 N/A27 19 EG.4.2-7 group-based savings, microfinance, or Male 0 50 N/A
17 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 18 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 19 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 20 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 21 Data was not available in Q1 FY2021 22 Value of individual investment made in agriculture as a result of USG assistance 23 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 24 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 25 Data was not available in Q1 FY2021 26 Data was not available in Q1 FY2021 27 Data was not available in Q1 FY2021
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
lending programs with USG Female 0 50 N/A assistance Overall 0 TBD N/A Employment in the agri-food 20 FARM 18 Male 0 N/A system28 Female 0 N/A Percent of households with adequate 21 FARM 8 8 20 N/A29 Food Consumption Score Percentage of female direct Overall 1.0 1.05 N/A beneficiaries of USG nutrition- < 19 years 0.0 - N/A 22 sensitive agriculture activities EG.3.3-10 19 years and consuming a diet of minimum 1.0 - N/A diversity above Percent of households that 23 consistently consume a diverse diet of FARM 9 1.2 1.26 N/A30 at least 5 of the 10 food groups Overall 1.2 1.26 N/A31 Prevalence of women of reproductive - N/A 24 age consuming a diet of minimum FARM 10 < 19 years 0.0 19 years and diversity 1.2 - N/A above Average number of food groups 25 consumed by women of reproductive FARM 11 2.3 2.8 N/A32 age Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding 26 FARM 12 7.7 8.09 N/A33 of children under six months of age Prevalence of children 6-23 months 27 FARM 13 0 TBD N/A34 receiving a minimum acceptable diet Percent of households that 28 consistently practice at least 4 of 6 FARM 14 47 49 N/A35 good hygiene practices Number of people gaining access to a
29 basic sanitation service as a result of HL. 8.2-2 0 3,000 N/A36
USG assistance Percentage of female beneficiaries in 30 FARM 15 1237 1538 N/A39 leadership positions Percentage of female participants in USG-assisted programs designed to 31 GNDR-2 0 10 N/A40 increase access to productive economic resources 32 YOUTH-1 Total 0 500 N/A41
28 Formerly EG. 3-g that has been customized. 29 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 30 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 31 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 32 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 33 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 34 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 35 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 36 Data is collected through the beneficiary based annual household survey (BBAHS). The result will be available in Q4 FY2021 37 No youths in leadership position 38 The target has been revised upwards from 10% which was below the baseline finding to 15% 39 Data was not available in Q1 FY2021 40 Data was not available in Q1 FY2021 41 Data was not available in Q1 FY2021
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Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets | FY 21 Quarter 1, October – December 2020
Number of youths at risk of violence Male 0 250 N/A trained in social or leadership skills through USG assisted programs (10- Female 0 250 N/A 29 years) Percentage of participants in USG- assisted programs designed to 33 increase access to productive YOUTH- 3 0 10 N/A42 economic resources who are youth (15-29 years)
11. ANNEX 4: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) AND ACTIVITY LOCATION DATA
There is no Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or activity location data to report for this quarter.
42 Data was not available in Q1 FY2021
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