Through participatory processes involving over 240 farmers, seven climate-smart value chains were identified and analyzed: goats, cattle, indigenous chickens, sorghum, fish, sesame, and chilies
ACCRA, Ghana, June 11, 2025/APO Group/ --
In Zimbabwe’s Kariba District, a quiet transformation is taking place driven by knowledge, inclusion, and resilience. Supported by the Embassy of Ireland through UNDP and led by FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, the ZRBF 2 bridging fund project “Resilience Building in the Sebungwe Landscape” is unlocking the potential of local communities to lead the way in climate-smart agriculture and natural resources management.

Amandla Tilawo Farmer Field School. Ward 3, Kariba District, Zimbabwe (Image credits: FAO/ Obert Maminimini)
Shifting mindsets: From command to collaboration
Simbarashe Kashiri, a young extension officer in Ward 4, Kariba shared how the training changed his outlook. “I initially thought extension work was all about giving orders to farmers,” Simbarashe reflects. “But now I understand the power of facilitation. In the Kujatana FFS group I helped establish, farmers are making their own decisions, and they’re thriving.”
That group, aptly named Kujatana (which means “working together” in the local language), has 88 percent women, and is already reaping the rewards of collaboration. They are cultivating tomatoes and producing organic compost from goat manure using the Bokashi method - a climate-smart practice that enhances soil fertility while promoting food security and sustainable farming.
Simbarashe’s experience is just one among many inspired by the project’s holistic, community-driven approach. Across nine wards in Kariba, 13 AGRITEX officers have been trained in the FFS model, resulting in the establishment of 12 Farmer Field Schools. More than just learning hubs, these schools are becoming spaces of empowerment, experimentation, and collective problem-solving, particularly for women and youth, who are leading the way in building local resilience.
Linking local knowledge with strategic objectives
The FFS approach not only improves local agricultural practices but also aligns with national and global sustainability targets. It supports FAO’s Strategic Framework (2022–2031), which seeks to promote Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life, leaving no one behind.
“This project contributes directly to FAO’s Strategic Framework by promoting sustainable food systems and inclusive rural transformation through capacity building, climate-smart agriculture, and stakeholder engagement. The adoption of the Farmer Field School approach exemplifies how local innovation and empowerment are essential to achieving resilience and sustainable development,” said Alexander Carr the Resilience Building in the Sebungwe Landscape, Project Coordinator.
The project supports UN SDGs 1, 2, and 10, reinforcing the right to food, gender equality, and decent rural livelihoods. “Particularly by advancing SDG Target 2.4 (sustainable food production systems) and promoting gender-sensitive value chains that create economic opportunities in rural areas,” asserted Obert Maminimini, FAO Crops and Extension Specialist.
From chickens to chilies: Creating climate-smart livelihoods
Through participatory processes involving over 240 farmers, seven climate-smart value chains were identified and analyzed: goats, cattle, indigenous chickens, sorghum, fish, sesame, and chilies. These value chains are being nurtured to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce environmental pressure, and increase household incomes.
The promotion of these value chains reflects the project’s broader vision: to create a landscape of resilience, where ecological conservation and human development go hand in hand.
Alongside community empowerment, the project has laid a strong technical foundation for sustainable development. A high-resolution Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) map was developed using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, and ecological connectivity for elephants was modelled to guide land planning. These tools are vital for aligning conservation priorities with local livelihoods.
More than 20 institutional stakeholders, including local government, conservation agencies, traditional leaders, and NGOs were engaged in mapping and consultation processes. This level of participation is essential for ensuring community ownership and policy alignment.
Collaboration for long-term impact
The Sebungwe project is not a standalone effort. It builds upon previous work under the EU-funded SWM 2 initiative and integrates FAO’s GEF-7 supported Integrated Landscape Planning Model. Together with partners such as Nyaminyami Rural District Council, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, African Parks, and Peace Parks, the project lays the groundwork for a comprehensive, coordinated resilience-building strategy in Zimbabwe.
In addition, the project’s success in integrating ecological and socio-economic priorities through land use planning, natural resources governance, and value chain development sets the stage for the larger European Union funded Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) Phase 2 implementation.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
Keep young ppl busy with education and sports and away from politics and guns.
It's a shame that view self interest people are misguiding and misleading young Somali girls/boys, who have the potential to become the future leaders. I urge you (young north-westerners) to abandon the lies and tricks of the self centred separatists, who are mainly created to give you a falls hope and to misguide you. They've told you hoax lies for 20+ years, and they are willing to continue with these lies for another 20+ years. All those separatists so called leaders have profited from you guys, while you are still poor. Can't you see the reality that lies in front of you? They don't care about you guys, walaahi they don't. They all have millions stacked somewhere. And guess what, those millions are millions stolen from your pocket. The day you guys realize that, is the day that you guys will prosper.
How about you stop talking about young kids who are trying to better themselves in somaliland and start focusing on helpng darood youth not to be like the parasites their parents and grandparents were.
Kaboon, how many times do I have to tell you that I'm not darood nor Hawiye, I'm sheikhaal. And I don't hate my Is@@q brothers, is just I have problems with separatists liars who brainwashed you and many Is@@q brothers and sister.
Whether you like it or not, we are here to stay for ever. What can you do? Cry false? Fight us ?
Sir/madam, I can't say more, Somaliland came about with peoples wishes and no one but the people themselves have power to change that. Not, your hate, envy or crying false, will bring Somaliland people to its knees any more.
Son of Somaliland, when you say ''people wishes'', at least have the balls to say ''some Is@@q wishes''. If you think you can call the so called referendum, a referendum, then its obvious to me that you are even willing to lie to make a point.
KKKKK
This is a Kabaddi an Indian sports played on the dirt fields in rural India lol.
loooool what kinda game is this, Wallahi its the first time i see this game.
It's either Kabaddi or Govinda two sports very popular in Indian more popular than the cricket.
check the pictures below which is very similar to what these somaliland folks are doing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dahi_Handi_Jay_…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dahi_Handi_Jai_…
MORE!!
check this indian movie below stars salman khan look at 3:16
Gus yar baad leedahay
Why are daroods bringing their hate to young children who are trying to better themselves. I think the D-day is coming for darood when everyone will not tolerate these scum. Ever hateful comment about somalis comes from a darood person. We need few more General M. Farrah Aideed to bring back the order.
They hate we GRIND! When was the last time you saw a Lander constantly posting on p c u ntal andia websites or kh aart tumo websites? We just dont give a fu g but they are constantly on our websites lol talk about desperate for attention!
Like 50 said like the fire needs the air, I dont burn unless your there, I need you to hate me because it only makes us stronger! Keep hating, while we rise.
Kaboon they need to be reminded that Aideed wanted to drive them into the sea while we offered and extended friendship and forgiveness even after what they did, but evil minds dont recognize fairness or kindness bc its not in their nature to understand. what are you gonna do?
Well, if you didn't care then why are you constantly complaining about ''HATERS'' ? start acting like a grown up man and just because the name include the words ''LAND and PRESS'' don't automatically assume the website belongs to you and if you have serious issues with posters you do have choice to ignore them, make an argument and put your point across or simply take your Jesus Stick and crawl back into your dark corner, I'll bet no one will notice you're gone not even your partner Kaboon.
MashAllah good to see the youth involved with sports in Somaliland but we need to introduce more and variety of other interesting and challenging sport because I've seen enough of the one shown above.
oh look we have monkey teaching monkeys on how to climb trees.lol
It's great to see such life skills being taught.
Gerald Graff PDF