Briefing Paper

Climate-smart Agriculture in Zimbabwe

Maize is the staple food crop in Zimbabwe, with millet, wheat, and barley also grown for the local market. Groundnuts/ peanuts and soya beans are also commonly grown. Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s most valuable crop. Cattle are the main livestock animal and beef is the single largest agricultural
product. Cow’s milk and animal hides are also important sources of income for farmers. The effects of climate change are evident in Zimbabwe’s increasing variability in rainfall patterns, high average temperatures, and increased frequency and extremity of droughts and floods. Furthermore, Zimbabwe faces multiple environmental management challenges that include pollution, poor waste
management, deforestation and land degradation, and veldt fires. It is also susceptible to perennial floods and droughts. In this context, CSA is critical for food security and development. It is an
approach that can help reduce the negative impacts of climate change and can increase the adaptive capacity of farming communities to long-term climatic trends. Key recommendations include the development of a legal instrument to promote CSA, providing women with knowledge and training
opportunities, develop and disseminate relevant knowledge products to increase understanding of CSA and monitoring the impact and success of CSA projects.