OAR@ICRISATConservation Agriculture practices and challenges in ZimbabweKMazvimaviauthorPNyathiauthorCMurendoauthorAn increasing number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) through funding from multiple donors are promoting conservation agriculture (CA) in the smallholder areas of Zimbabwe. CA has been seen as technology option that can increase yields of a wide range of crops by resource-poor farmers even in drier agro-ecological regions. Farmers across Zimbabwe have shown a growing interest in the CA technology with evidence of yield gains of between 10 and more than 100% depending on input levels and the experience of the farm household (Mazvimavi et al., 2008). Cases of spontaneous adoption are being observed in areas where demonstrations and training programs have been well supported by NGOs, research and extension institutes. However there have been arguments that CA adoption in sub Saharan Africa (SSA) is low due to the socio economic conditions in which CA is implemented (Giller et al.,2009) and that CA can only improve food security in SSA if farmers have access to herbicides and fertilizers (Gowing and Palmer, 2008). This study was aimed at assessing the adoption trends of CA principles and practices in smallholder areas of Zimbabwe. The study also assessed the socioeconomic impacts of CA technologies to vulnerable farm households.Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics2011Conference or Workshop Item

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