INTERNATIONAL relief organisation, VSO, has amplified calls for the implementation of the agro-ecology policy as the country and the region continue to battle the El Niño-induced drought.
Hopes for the implementation of the policy remain high as government has since made calls for smallholder farmers to adopt agro-ecology as a climate resilience technique.
VSO country lead Tecla Ponde told NewsDay that Zimbabwe needs an agro-ecology policy to enhance sustainability and create synergies, adding that it is a conduit for enhanced food security for smallholder farmers and the country at large.
“We need an agro-ecology policy to say, what are we talking about in terms of climate change? What are the policies that can be put in place that make it easier for farmers to grow their own food and to replicate the systems and methods of farming into other areas?” Ponde said.
“For the government, it is not just a question of policy, but it is also rolling out of the policy, rolling out of the training methodologies of agro-ecology and taking an active interest to study how agro-ecology is impacting the food of the nation,” Ponde added.
“We are supposed to support government efforts and also share the experiences that we are having so that the government can roll out, can replicate and increase the scope. We are planning a regional agro-ecology conference and we are inviting and working with government and its agencies to see how we can begin to bring this issue out there and advocate more uptake from other farmers.”
VSO research, documentation, and communications lead-resilient livelihoods, Vladymir Rivera, said at a global level, there were diverse interventions tailored to the specific needs of communities.
“By focusing on education, livelihoods development, health, empowerment, disaster preparedness and advocacy, VSO helps to build robust safety nets for communities struggling to sustain their livelihoods,” Rivera said.
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“These efforts contribute to long-term resilience, enabling communities to navigate and overcome economic, environmental and social challenges effectively.”
Rivera said VSO offered training in agro-ecology and sustainable farming practices to increase agricultural productivity and food security.
In eastern and southern Africa, VSO has implemented agro-ecological training programmes, teaching farmers methods like crop rotation, organic fertilisation and pest management to boost yields and resilience.
