Farmers in Zimbabwe have been urged by the Forestry Commission to adopt agroforestry in order to spread the risks associated with adverse weather and broaden their income base.

All Africa reports on a tour of agroforestry projects in the country’s Midlands Province, during which journalists were told of the advantages of integrating trees with food crops.

Trees can help to improve soils and control weeds, pests and erosion. One farmer in the province, who has been practicing agroforestry for 4 years, is receiving better crop yields than his neighbors who are using conventional farming methods. He is alley cropping sorghum, rapoko, sugar beans, buck wheat and potatoes alongside trees such as leucaena, gliricidia, pigeon pea and Acacia angustissima.

Read the full story: Zimbabwe: Adopt agroforestry