An Economic analysis of climate-smart agricultural practices among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe · Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author

Munyoro, Natsai

Title

An Economic analysis of climate-smart agricultural practices among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Climate chaos is crippling smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe. Rain now arrives late or not at all; heatwaves scorch seedlings; once-reliable calendars are useless. Yields tumble and the countryside edges toward chronic hunger. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers a practical escape, yet adoption drags. This study cuts through the rhetoric and counts the shillings. Four core CSA tactics—conservation tillage, water harvesting, tree intercropping, and drought-tolerant seed—were tracked across representative villages. Farmers grasp the concepts, but only a minority practice them. Why? Capital, knowledge, and security: three hard walls. Cash-strapped households hesitate to buy specialised seed or dig contour ridges. Extension officers are scarce; training sessions erratic. Tenure remains murky, so farmers refuse to invest in soils they might lose. Where CSA is implemented, the payoff is unequivocal. Multivariate analysis shows yield gains averaging 25 – 35 %, sharper income stability, and measurable improvements in soil organic matter. Stacking practices multiplies benefits: a farmer who combines tied-ridging with leguminous trees and early-maturing seed earns roughly twice the net margin of a neighbour relying on conventional ploughing. Importantly, cost-benefit ratios turn positive in three to five seasons—well within typical planning horizons. The policy message is blunt. Zimbabwe does not need more pilot plots; it needs structural support. Government must underwrite start-up costs through targeted input vouchers and low-interest credit. Land tenure legislation must move from committee rooms to farmers’ hands, granting the security that unlocks long-term investment. Extension services require a digital overhaul: mobile-based bulletins delivering weather analytics and step-by-step CSA protocols would bridge the information gap swiftly and cheaply. Development partners should pivot from blanket seed hand-outs to matched savings schemes that reward multi-practice adoption. Without such decisive measures, smallholders will remain trapped in a costly dance with a changing climate. With them, CSA can shift from niche experiment to national backbone, safeguarding food sovereignty and rural livelihoods alike.

Date

June 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Climate Smart Agricultural Practices

Economic Analysis and Smallholder Farmers

Supervisor

Dr. Govera