FARMERS operating small gardens and irrigation projects in Matabeleland South Province have embraced agro-forestry, which has helped them to practise agriculture in an environmentally friendly manner and ensure sustainable livelihoods.

As opposed to the traditional way of planting only crops in their fields, farmers are also growing trees. Some have also established nurseries where they grow and sell seedlings for an income. Others sell fruit.

Agro-forestry is key to sustaining food and nutrition security. The model generally involves mixing of crops and trees, taking advantage of their symbiotic and abiotic interactions. Planting trees together with crops greatly increases the yield in the field.

Research has shown that after agro-forestry farmers in drought situations still get up to 80 percent of what they get in a normal season. This is possible through increase of soil organic matter, soil infiltration and greater fertility. Agro-forestry also improves soil fertility.

Food security and nutrition remains one of the main thrusts of the Government and is a key deliverable that will ensure attainment of an upper middle income economy status by 2030.

Farmers operating from Phakamani Garden in Sengezane Village, Ward 14 in Gwanda District have a nursery where they nurture tree seedlings and an orchard.

The chairperson of the project Ms Celiwe Moyo said since they started the project in April 2019, they have realised significant projects from selling their seedlings as well as selling fruits from their orchard.

“The farming that we previously knew was of growing crops only, which we would then sell or eat. We were then introduced to agro forestry, which has not only helped us to get income but to also ensure nutrition security within our families,” she said.

“It wasn’t a common thing for us in the rural areas to find fruits being sold at the shops, which meant that we were losing out on some nutrients.

“Now we have the fruits in our garden and we can eat with our children.”

Ms Moyo said community members were forthcoming to buy fruits as they were now at their disposal.

She added: “We also have an orchard and a nursery in the garden where we have variety of fruit trees, which include guavas, lemons, paw paws, grapes and mangoes.

“We grow our seedlings at the nursery and when they have matured, we sell some while we plant the rest in our orchard. We have made significant income from selling our seedlings.”

Members of Progressive Garden in Bethel Village, Ward 14 have also successfully managed to practice agro forestry at their 0,8ha garden. The project has 45 beneficiaries.

A project member, Ms Mandlela Dube said in addition to a variety of crops, which include butternut, tomatoes and onions they also have a variety of fruit trees.

She said they also have a nursery where they nurture their tree seedlings to trees which they later sell. Ms Dube said agro-forestry has helped them improve the quality of their crops.

“In addition to a variety of nutritional crops and plants that we grow we also grow trees in the garden and nurture seedlings that we sell in order to get income,” she said.

“We understand that plants and crops are not the only source of income and food but so are trees and while we do our farming, we also have to preserve the environment. This project will help us to harvest even during drought times,” she said.

Matabeleland South acting provincial agricultural officer, Mr Mkhunjulelwa Ndlovu said many farmers had adopted agro-forestry in their agriculture activities and they understood its benefits.

He said gardens and irrigations that were being established were adopting the concept. Mr Ndlovu said a number of development partners were assisting in establishing and implementing these projects. He said his ministry was now pushing to ensure that people adopted this concept as household level.

Mr Ndlovu said through training from relevant stakeholders, farmers were being equipped with knowledge on the type of trees that are suitable for a particular type of soil.

“Farmers now understand that agro-forestry is the way to go and they are fast adopting the concept although some are still lagging behind,” he said.

“Agro forestry helps to improve soil nutrients and also helps farmers with a source of income. At the same time, they will be practising agriculture in an environmentally friendly manner.” — @DubeMatutu