In recent years, Zimbabwe has been proactively implementing agritech solutions and climate-smart technologies to tackle the myriad challenges impacting its agricultural sector. The country’s push towards digitalization and smart farming comes at a critical time, as it has experienced four drought seasons in the past decade, leading to erratic crop outputs and significant livestock losses. These climatic challenges have made the adoption of smart agriculture solutions not just an advantage, but a necessity.
In November 2021, Zimbabwe launched the National AgriTech Strategy 2021-2025, a comprehensive plan aimed at digitalizing the farming ecosystem and enhancing evidence-based decision-making for African farmers. This strategy is a significant step towards modernizing the agricultural sector, which has long been the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy.
One of the notable successes in this realm is the implementation of solar-powered irrigation systems. According to Farmonaut, a satellite-based crop health monitoring startup, these systems have boosted crop yields by an impressive 30%. This technological advancement is crucial in a country where power cuts have been a persistent issue for over two decades, often leading to irregular water supplies and affecting both communal and commercial farmers.
The government has also been proactive in promoting climate-smart agriculture models. In 2020, it launched the Intwasa/Pfumvudza program, designed to help smallholder farmers improve crop productivity under adverse weather conditions. As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has been training farmers to use drone technology. Drones enable precision agriculture, feed surveillance, field mapping, and chemigation, all of which are vital for improving crop yields and managing resources more efficiently.
In 2023, the government approved the use of climate-smart seeds for crops such as maize, sorghum, millets, rice, soyabeans, sunflowers, and cotton. These seeds are specifically designed to adapt to changing climatic conditions, providing a buffer against the unpredictable weather patterns that have become a norm in Zimbabwe.
Despite these advancements, the viability of implementing smart agriculture on a wider scale remains a challenge. The high cost of acquiring equipment such as drones, solar panels, and lithium batteries means that access to these technologies is still limited to a few commercial farmers. However, there are signs of progress. Blessing Phiri, co-founder of agritech company Agriacres, noted that more farmers are now using mobile apps, USSD platforms, drones, and satellite imaging. Some have even started implementing IoT sensors, with promising results.
The adoption of smart agriculture is also proving to be a significant milestone for female farmers. Olga Nhari, founder and national coordinator of the Women in Agriculture Union (WAU), highlighted that women farmers are increasingly using mobile apps, precision farming tools, and climate-smart agriculture technologies. These tools help them monitor crop health, optimize water usage, and predict weather patterns, ultimately improving their yields and livelihoods.
The impact of these technological advancements is already being felt. In 2022, Zimbabwe recorded its highest output of maize, the country’s staple food, securing 2.28 million tons. This is a significant achievement, considering the country requires 2.2 million tons of maize annually. The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is now targeting an output of 2.7 million tons of maize this year, a testament to the effectiveness of the smart agriculture initiatives.
The government’s ambition doesn’t stop at crops. It aims to double the national herd to 11 million by 2030 through the development of drought-tolerant livestock breeds, courtesy of climate-smart breeding strategies. This initiative is part of a broader plan to grow the livestock sector to US$3.4 billion by the end of 2025.
The shift towards smart agriculture is not just about increasing yields; it’s about building resilience. Wendy Zvakawapano, co-founder of Wenashe Farms, a regenerative and climate-smart agribusiness, explained how technology-driven solutions are helping farmers adapt to climate change and work around challenges like power cuts and erratic rainfall. For instance, Wenashe Farms’ hydroponics units produce up to three to four times more yield per square meter than traditional soil farming, using 90% less water. Integrating biogas systems has also cut energy costs, benefiting both farming operations and employees.
Clive Munakandafa, vice-chairperson of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union for Matabeleland North, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the role of technology in sustaining the agricultural sector’s productivity in the face of extreme weather patterns. Smartphone applications, sensors, drones, and smart irrigation techniques are enabling farmers to plan their water application schedules based on weather forecasts, adapting as required by the prevailing situations.
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