Enhancing the adoption of animal traction conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe Walter Mupangwa, Christian Thierfelder, Isaiah Nyagumbo, Stephanie Cheesman 28 March 2011

Projects focus

Fitarelli jab-planterAT Direct seederMagoye ripper Basin planting Promotion of CA equipment

Capacity building - NGOs and NARES in the use of animal traction CA systems Development and dissemination of CA equipment Provision of a credit facility to farmers to purchase CA equipment and herbicides Pre-season training of implementing partners

Projects design

Work with partners – innovation network Smallholder Farmers Input Suppliers CSFS Grownet/ HASTT CIMMYT NGOs/ AREX

Targeted communities – adapted research on farmers’ fields CIMMYT provides technical support to partners – training, extension materials CIMMYT conducts biophysical and socio-economic research on the animal traction CA options

What has worked well Training implementing partners 190 on-farm demonstrations established for 2010/11

Development of 2 seeder prototypes … What has worked well

Farmers accessing CA equipment and herbicides through a revolving fund 38 farmers bought CA equipment and glyphosate

Challenges Late start of the project Late delivery of inputs and CA equipment to farmers Delayed planting on CA demonstration plots

… Challenges Poor weed control Incessant rains in January waterlogging

… Challenges Locally assembled direct seeder had multiple operational problems Lack of mulching materials Poor relations between implementing partners Long dry spell – February 2011

Lessons learnt Community based research – understand where technology works and does not work First year is full of challenges - > 1 season to promote technologies Working with private sector – way of promoting CA technology Partner selection critical for success – same agenda Avail credit facilities to smallholder farmers

Way forward More training to partners – CA equipment & herbicides Continue with revolving fund Further testing & perfecting CA equipment prototypes Bring in more partners especially CA equipment manufacturers to push prices down More research on socio-economic and biophysical impact of CA systems Provide extension materials

Thank you