In just over a decade, Zimbabwe has gone from being a major food exporter to being a country dependent on hand-outs to alleviate hunger.

An article in the Zimbabwe Standard says it will take more than just providing farm inputs to boost the country’s agricultural sector. “The adoption of conservation farming by every farmer is long overdue,” says the article.

Conservation farming uses surface cover (mulch) to conserve water, improve soil health and minimize run-off and erosion. It includes components and practices such as agroforestry, zero tillage, alley cropping, integrated pest management, organic farming, crop and pasture rotation and contour farming.

Apart from the tobacco industry, there has been low agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe in recent years. Farming practices such as slash and burn have degraded soils and an overdependence on pesticides and other chemicals has further affected soil health. Changing climatic conditions are set to worsen the situation, and already millions are in need of food assistance.

The country’s rainfall patterns have seen a major shift recently, leaving farmers unsure when to start planting. When the rains do come, they are often followed by long dry periods with intense heat; ravaging crops. At other times, the rainfall is too abundant and crops are damaged.

“Zimbabwe has the potential to not only revive the agricultural sector and ensure food security for its entire people, but to once again become the bread basket of southern Africa, and beyond.”

Read the full story: Conservation: Answer to farming woes