In Zimbabwe’s arid regions, farmers like Gertrude Siduna and Muchaneta Mutowa are turning to climate-smart agriculture to cope with harsh environmental conditions. Thanks to training funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), they’ve learned to adapt by cultivating crops and using technologies suited to the country’s changing climate.
Gertrude Siduna, a 49-year-old farmer from Chipinge district, has shifted from growing corn to cultivating chilies. This change has significantly improved her livelihood. “I just pick the chilies from the fields and take them to the nearby Cargill processing center,” she says. “It’s simple, and the income is steady—about $400 in my first year of harvest.” This income has provided financial stability in an area where droughts often threaten traditional crops like corn.
Muchaneta Mutowa, another beneficiary of climate-smart initiatives, has gained access to solar-powered water technology, which provides reliable water for her village. “Before, we had to fetch water from distant riverbeds,” she explains. “Now, with solar technology, we have water flowing from taps—it’s a game changer.”
In Chiredzi, farmer Kenias Chikamhi also recognizes that growing traditional corn has become increasingly unreliable due to recurring droughts. He now sees crops like millet, which are more drought-resistant, as a viable alternative.