A Guide to Conservation Agriculture in Zimbabwe - Canadian ...

section ONE
Promoting Conservation Agriculture Among Farmers
Short term benefits (1-4 years)
Conserves water
Conservation agriculture conserves water in a number of
ways by using it more efficiently than most conventional
practices. Firstly, it allows farmers to plant early with the
first effective rains. It allows households without draught
power to plant as soon as the first effective rains come
because land preparation is done during the dry season.
This means that such households do not have to delay
planting while waiting to hire draught animals or tractors,
which may only become available several weeks into the
season. With the cropping period in most semi-arid regions
“This method of farming has increased my yields
compared to the past years when I always planted
late as I had to wait for draught power from my
neighbours. In most cases they would prepare my plot
very late into the season, leading to low crop yields.”
“Lokhu kulima kungenzele ngcono kakhulu ngoba
kweminye iminyaka ngiyake ngithwale nzima ngidinga
izifuyo kubo makhelwane njalo baphuze ukuzongilimela,
lonyaka ngivunile sibili”.
“Uku kurima kwakandibatsira chaizvo nokuti pane
mimwe mwaka ndinombotambudzika ndichitsvaka
zvipfuyo zvokurimisa ndozvodziwana nguba yapera
zvichizvondiwanisa goho shoma’.
In conservation agriculture, reduced tillage and mulch
cover result in less surface run-off and higher water
infiltration than is the case with conventional tillage. In
addition, the basins, furrows and rip lines collect run-off
and this water becomes available to the crops. Mulching
further assists moisture conservation by shading the soil
surface and so reduces evaporation.
Conservation agriculture also outperforms conventional
practices in high rainfall areas and during years when the
rains are good. This is borne out by over two decades of
observations for very wet seasons, both in large and smallscale
sectors and is endorsed by recent trials to compare
farmer and conservation practice - see Table 1.1 above.
Saves on inputs
Conservation agriculture uses inputs more efficiently both
because it uses less of them, and because of the way they
are used,these smaller applications actually result in higher
yields. In the case of labour inputs, whilst the amount of
labour required may not change it can be spread out over
the season. Also, since conservation agriculture gives greater
yields, a smaller area can be cultivated for the same yield.
Precision application of inputs such as manure and inorganic
fertilizers ensures that there is no wastage since they are
spot placed where the crop needs them. Traditionally,
communal farmers broadcast manure before ploughing it
in resulting in more manure being used in a given area.
A Fact from the Field
In a survey conducted among smallholder farmers
who had been implementing the planting basins
technology for one season, 75% of the farmers
identified saving of nutrients through precise
application as the major benefit of planting basins.
Better establishment and crop growth
The high level of management in conservation agriculture,
which ensures timely planting, fertilization, weeding and
effective crop protection results in better crop
establishment compared to conventional farming
practices. Increased water harvesting in conservation
agriculture plots helps crops survive mid-season dry spells
that are a recurrent feature of semi-arid areas.
13 Farming for the Future