Zimbabwean Women Spearhead Climate-Adaptive Farming to Support Disabled Children
As the threat of climate change looms, the Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association (ZPHCA) are adopting innovative farming techniques to ensure food security and sustainability.
Jordan Taylor
- 2023-12-29
- Updated 09:50 AM ET
(NewsNibs) - Mothers of disabled children in Zimbabwe are confronting the adverse effects of climate change through adaptive measures in agriculture. Through the framework of the Grassroots Women Resilience Building National Convention, members of the ZPHCA have embarked on small grain cultivation and intensified their irrigation efforts to bolster food production. Theresa Makwara, coordinator of the organization, highlighted the intensified vulnerability of these parents, particularly emphasizing the struggles faced by the mothers in times of environmental stress.
Building Agricultural Resilience
Across the nation, the dire consequences of erratic weather patterns and droughts are evident, with substantial livestock losses in regions like Masvingo and Matabeleland South. To combat these challenges, community leaders such as Fortunate Musungo from Mambo Seke and Lizzy Gonye from Mambo Chinamhora are voicing the critical role these women play in their communities. They are advocating for support and promoting diverse, climate-resilient farming practices to stave off hunger. Musungo and Gonye encourage the cultivation of drought-resistant grains and usage of water-conserving techniques, such as Pfumvudza planting pits and mulching, expediting the switch to sustainable farming practices.
Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship
In the face of adversity, women like Moreblessing Buyasi and Esina Zumbu have turned to agriculture to support their families. Engaging in the sale of crops and processed goods such as peanut butter, they have created sources of income while contributing to their community's food security. The collective effort of over 460 women involves poultry and fish farming, vegetable cultivation, and other initiatives, showcasing the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of the members. Assistance programs such as Zunde Ramambo, backed by the Presidential Inputs Scheme, provide further support with seed aid, ensuring these initiatives lead to fruitful harvests.
The determination and ingenuity of the ZPHCA members are vital as Zimbabwe braces for the 2023-2024 farming season, which may usher in high risks of famine due to predicted shortages of rainfall associated with El Niño. The sustainability actions taken by these women could prove crucial in the country's battle against food insecurity and climate change's impacts.
