1. Increasing conservation agriculture (CA) options for smallholder farmers in different agro-ecological regions of Zimbabwe
Walter Mupangwa, Christian Thierfelder & Munyaradzi Mutenje
Africa Congress on Conservation Agriculture
18–21 March 2014
Lusaka, Zambia

2. Farming Systems at Study Sites
Mixed crop/livestock
Conventional agriculture
Food crops: Maize, sorghum, pearl millet, groundnuts, bambaranuts, cowpea
Cash crops: Cotton, tobacco, soybeans
Crop associations: Full rotations of cereal/legumes rare, intercrops common
Dry spells, low soil fertility

3. CA options introduced Study districts: Gokwe, Kariba and Zaka
Hand dug planting basins
Animal traction ripline seeding
Study districts: Gokwe, Kariba and Zaka
Animal traction direct seeding

4. … CA options introduced
Crops grown: maize (SC513), soybean (Safari) and cowpea (CBC 2)
Maize rotated with cowpea (NR 4) and soybean (NR 3) in each cropping system
Equal fertilization: basal 150 kgha-1 compound D & topdressing (34.5% 200 kgha-1 ammonium nitrate
Soybean inoculated, fertilized with soya-blend (6N:27P2O5:20K2O) at 165 kgha-1
Weed control: Glyphosate at seeding (2.5 l ha-1) in CA, manual weeding when necessary

5. Results from 2010/11-2012/13 seasons

6. Seasonal rainfall

7. No significant differences in first season-NR 3
Higher yields in DS in subsequent seasons-NR 3

8. Yield responses variable – NR 4
Higher yields in basins – NR 4

9. Higher yield in AT CA options – NR 3
Low yield in basins – low crop stand – NR 3

10. No significant yield differences in first season - NR 4
Higher yields in AT CA with time - NR 4

11. Net benefits of cropping systems- NR 3 (2013)
Conv.-Maize
Basins-Maize
Ripper-Maize
DS-Maize
Conv.-soya
Basins-soya
Ripper-soya
DS-soya
TOTAL BENEFITS ($/ha)
1615
1414
1374
1803
1106
1013
1685
1858
COSTS ($/ha)
LABOUR
237
257
191
136
236
157
INPUTS
359
281
TOTAL VARIABLE COSTS ($/ha)
596
616
550
495
517
438
472
417
GROSS
BENEFITS ($/ha)
NET BENEFITS ($/ha)
1019
798
824
1308
589
575
1213
1441

12. Net benefits of cropping systems- NR 4 (2013)
Conv.-Maize
Basins-Maize
Ripper-Maize
DS-Maize
Conv.-cowpea
Basins-cowpea
Ripper-cowpea
DS-cowpea
TOTAL BENEFITS ($/ha)
1241
1260
1285
1343
993
884
1417
1327
COSTS ($/ha)
LABOUR
186
233
211 33
182
230
208 81
INPUTS
305
125
TOTAL VARIABLE COSTS ($)
491
538
516
338
307
355
333
206
GROSS
BENEFITS ($/ha)
NET BENEFITS ($/ha)
750
722
769
1005
686
529
1084
1121

13. Lessons learnt
Socio-economic benefits (e.g. reduced time and labor) increase farmer acceptance in the short term
Farmer-to-farmer exchange visits are effective for better understanding of new technologies
More training on CA equipment and herbicides – bad experiences with equipment/herbicides discourage farmers
Farmer discussion during
exchange visit

14. Lessons learnt
CA equipment development: extensive participatory process – requires time to perfect equipment
CA equipment manufacturers require pre-financing
CA equipment still not widely available
Credit facility increases accessibility of equipment and adoption CA technology
Prototype 1
Prototype 2

15. Concluding Remarks
AT CA options offer alternative to increase crop productivity in different NRs
DS CA system gives the highest net benefits – reduced production costs + higher crop yields
Basin CA system gives the lowest benefits - higher production costs
Higher maize yields in basin system in NR 4 – rainwater harvesting
More investments in CA equipment development
Credit facility to encourage adoption of CA technologies

16. Thank You