Profile of Odzi Sub-catchment in Chimanimani District Scaling Up Adaptation in Zimbabwe, with a Focus on Rural Livelihoods Project Profile of Odzi Sub-catchment in Chimanimani District Scaling Up Adaptation in Zimbabwe, with a Focus on Rural Livelihoods Project Profile of Odzi Sub-catchment in Chimanimani District Scaling Up Adaptation in Zimbabwe, with a Focus on Rural Livelihoods Project Profile of Odzi Sub-catchment in Chimanimani District i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This biophysical and socio-economic profile was made possible through the hardwork and commitment of a number of stakeholders at district level including staff from the District Administrator's office, Rural District Council, President's Office, Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Agritex, Livestock Production Department, Veterinary Services Department, Zimbabwe National Water Authority, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Department of Irrigation, Department of Mechanisation, Oxfam, Plan International and Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE), farmers, WARD councillors and community leaders from the targeted subcatchment and Wards. The following experts led the field assessments, analyses and write-up: Bertha Nherera (livelihoods), Mhosisi Masocha (Ph.D, Water resources), Hatirarami Nezomba and Christopher Chagumira (Soils), Paradzayi Tagwireyi (Ph.D, vegetation and livestock), and Munyaradzi Shekede and Isaiah Gwitira (climate). Leonard Unganai (Ph.D) and Sheila Mlambo from the Project Management Unit provided conceptual guidance to the team leaders. Jeanette Manjengwa (Ph.D) and Leonard Unganai (Ph.D) edited the report. Photos: Michael Mushunje/Innocent Katsande Citation: This report may be cited as: Oxfam-UNDP/GEF Scaling up Adaptation in Zimbabwe, with a focus on rural livelihoods project (2015). Profile of the Odzi subcatchment in Chimanimani District. Technical report, Harare, Zimbabwe. Profile of Odzi Sub-catchment in Chimanimani District i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This biophysical and socio-economic profile was made possible through the hardwork and commitment of a number of stakeholders at district level including staff from the District Administrator's office, Rural District Council, President's Office, Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Agritex, Livestock Production Department, Veterinary Services Department, Zimbabwe National Water Authority, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Department of Irrigation, Department of Mechanisation, Oxfam, Plan International and Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE), farmers, WARD councillors and community leaders from the targeted subcatchment and Wards. The following experts led the field assessments, analyses and write-up: Bertha Nherera (livelihoods), Mhosisi Masocha (Ph.D, Water resources), Hatirarami Nezomba and Christopher Chagumira (Soils), Paradzayi Tagwireyi (Ph.D, vegetation and livestock), and Munyaradzi Shekede and Isaiah Gwitira (climate). Leonard Unganai (Ph.D) and Sheila Mlambo from the Project Management Unit provided conceptual guidance to the team leaders. Jeanette Manjengwa (Ph.D) and Leonard Unganai (Ph.D) edited the report. Photos: Michael Mushunje/Innocent Katsande Citation: This report may be cited as: Oxfam-UNDP/GEF Scaling up Adaptation in Zimbabwe, with a focus on rural livelihoods project (2015). Profile of the Odzi subcatchment in Chimanimani District. Technical report, Harare, Zimbabwe. Scaling Up Adaptation in Zimbabwe, ii with a Focus on Rural Livelihoods Project Profile of Odzi Sub-catchment in Chimanimani District iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FINDINGS Main messages Water resources Livelihoods Surface and groundwater are important for The main livelihood strategies in the targeted socio-economic development in Chimanimani Wards include (1) rainfed crop production, Ÿ Irrigation is essential for productive agriculture and food security in the district. Massive District. Contamination of water in Chimanimani gardening and livestock farming, (2) village investment is needed in irrigation which involves technically sound irrigation schemes, robust management systems and continuous maintenance and repairs, creating a viable was widespread, with faecal coliforms detected savings, (3) sand abstraction, (4) brick and sustainable solution. in 66 per cent of groundwater samples and 71 moulding, (5) casual labour, (6) crafts, (7) per cent of surface water samples. vending , (8) illegal selling of fire wood, and (9) Ÿ Microbial contamination of water sources requires urgent investigation as to extent and beekeeping. Drought is the main climatic causes, as well as urgent interventions to provide safe water to communities. Soil resources hazard interacting with the socio-economic and Cattle, sheep, Wards in the west and south of the district have biophysical environment to heighten livelihood Ÿ More boreholes are needed for indentified communities with problematic access to water. predominantly shallow sandy soils that are vulnerabilities in the sub-catchment. goats and donkeys inherently infertile derived from granite. These From the results of the Rapid Assessment it can are grazed in the areas are prone to soil degradation. Soil be concluded that the current state and trends This report, 'Profile of the Odzi Sub-catchments Methodology rainy season on in Chimanimani District', presents findings from The rapid assessment and the profiling process degradation, occurring in both fields and in land degradation, pasture depletion, water the rapid assessment that was conducted in were guided by the DPSIR (drivers, pressures, grazing areas, is characterised by the presence stress and socio-economic pressures are communal of gullies, and silted rivers and small earth interacting with climatic stress to heighten April/May 2015 for the UNDP/GEF supported state, impact and responses) Framework; the rangelands project 'Scaling up Adaptation in Zimbabwe, Ecosystems Services Framework; and the dams. In ward 5 some gullies were as wide 10 livelihood vulnerabilities among rural with a focus on Rural Livelihoods'. The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. DPSIR metres. Soils sampled from crop and grazing communities in the district. To build resilience, characterized by assessment covered biophysical and socio- allows for the identification of the linkages lands revealed nutrient depletion as nitrogen, central government, local authorities and uncleared forests The Ecosystem economic aspects to provide a better between the driving forces that are behind the phosphorus and base nutrients were low. individuals will need to scale up investments in understanding on the current state and trends of and on cropland Services direct pressures on climate and land that cause water resources, natural ecosystem climate, water, land/soil, vegetation, livestock change, the current state of land resources and Vegetation management, climate smart agriculture, during the dry Framework and livelihoods. This knowledge can assist in their dynamics (the direction and magnitude of Vegetation in the target wards of Chimanimani infrastructure, tailored climate services and District was described as moderately to season. focuses on the the development of appropriate climate change any change), the impacts of climate variability disaster risk reduction. adaptation plans. and environmental degradation on human severely degraded. Significantly bare areas, benefits people livelihoods, and possible responses of with more than 50 per cent of total land cover, obtain from The main objective of the UNDP/GEF project is communities to the impacts of climate change were observed, particularly in wards 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, to scale up adaptation measures that reduce and variability. The Ecosystem Services 8, 17, 18 and 20. ecosystems. the vulnerability of rural communities, Framework focuses on the benefits people particularly women smallholder farmers obtain from ecosystems. The Sustainable Livestock and wildlife affected by climate variability and change in the Livelihoods Framework approach is used for Despite the degraded rangeland, livestock are targeted project areas. The project intends to understanding how household livelihood generally regarded as an important source of diversify and strengthen livelihoods and systems interact with the natural, socio- livelihood. Cattle, sheep, goats and donkeys are sources of income for vulnerable people; and to economic and policy environment and how the grazed in the rainy season on communal increase knowledge and understanding of different capitals (physical, human, financial, rangelands characterized by uncleared forests climate variability and change-induced risks in social, natural) can be used to adapt to climate and on cropland during the dry season. Tick targeted vulnerable areas. The project is being change including extremes. Soil degradation born and other diseases such as heart water, implemented by Oxfam in partnership with the was assessed using the Land Degradation anthrax and black leg in cattle and acute heart Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Assessment in Drylands (LADA) process water in goats and sheep were increasing. University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Southern Alliance developed by the Food and Agriculture Newcastle disease in poultry was also of for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE) and Plan Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (FAO, concern. International over the period 2014 to 2018. 2011). Scaling Up Adaptation in Zimbabwe, ii with a Focus on Rural Livelihoods Project Profile of Odzi Sub-catchment in Chimanimani District iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FINDINGS Main messages Water resources Livelihoods Surface