Our Mission and Vision

Draft Input Supply Program (DISP)

FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS

Binga Conservation Agriculture (CA) - Livestock Integration for Enhanced Climate Change Adaptation

The CA-Livestock integration project operated under the auspices of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Canadian Food Grains Bank (CFGB). It focused on implementing conservation agriculture practices integrated with livestock rearing in 9 wards of Binga district. These wards are Kaani ward 24, Sikalenge ward 6, Simatelele ward 8, Dobola ward 14, Sinansegwe war 4, Sinampande/Nagangala ward 3, Nabusenga ward 2, Kalungwizi ward 23 and Tyunga ward 22. The project targeted a total of 1210 benefiting households (726 Female headed households and 484 male headed households). The project's primary objective is to contribute to improved food security by promoting agroecological farming practices that are climate-smart and sustainable. Techniques such as intercropping, crop rotation, composting, mulching, ripping, and livestock integration are emphasized to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience in households across the nine targeted wards of Binga. By adopting these practices, the project aims to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities, enabling them to cope with climate variability and change. The integration of livestock within the farming system also contributes to diversification and increased resilience, as well as providing additional livelihood opportunities. Overall, the Binga Conservation Agriculture – Livestock Integration for Enhanced Climate Change Adaptation Project seeks to address food insecurity and build the resilience of communities in Binga District by promoting sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices. It places a particular emphasis on women's participation and empowerment, recognizing their vital role in achieving household food security and improving their overall socio-economic status.

Brick and Block Laying Course

The self-financing Brick and Block laying program is a joint initiative between KMTC and the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts, and Recreation. The program operates under the supervision of Mguza Vocational Training Centre (VTC). This partnership aims to provide vocational training opportunities in the field of brick and block laying. In October 2020, the program successfully enrolled eleven students following the COVID-19 guidelines to ensure their safety. These students underwent training at KMTC until December 2020. However, in January 2021, the program faced challenges in recruiting additional students due to a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in Binga district and the nation as a whole. Subsequently, a lockdown was imposed, causing a halt in the implementation of most activities, including the recruitment process. With the gradual relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions starting from mid-March 2022, the program resumed. An advertisement was circulated to call for applications from interested candidates for the brick and block laying program.

Social Protection

This project was an LSA project was funded by MCC and implemented by KMTC in Nabusenga ward for a period of 3 months from January 2022 to March 2022. The project targeted 350 households in Nabusenga ward. In terms of financial resources, the project had USD80 000.00. This included funds for procurement of food items, transportation and distribution to targeted beneficiaries. The implementation of the LSA project was prompted by the acute food insecurity situation prevalent in Nabusenga ward. The project recognized that if the food insecurity issue was not addressed, households might resort to consuming their seed stock meant for the upcoming agricultural season. This would have resulted in poor harvests for the affected households, perpetuating a vicious cycle of food insecurity in the ward. Therefore, the project was designed to assist farmers in utilizing their seed stock productively, thereby addressing food insecurity among them. The project was strategically implemented during the peak hunger period when most households in the ward were experiencing food insecurity. By initiating interventions at this critical time, the project aimed to provide immediate relief and support to the affected households. Gender and environmental considerations were integral to the project implementation. The project ensured a balanced distribution of benefits, with 60% of the beneficiaries being female-headed households and 40% being male-headed households. This approach aimed to address gender disparities and empower women, recognizing their important roles in agriculture and household food security. By incorporating gender and environmental considerations into the project implementation, it sought to ensure equity, resilience, and sustainability in addressing food insecurity challenges in Nabusenga ward. These efforts aimed to not only alleviate immediate hunger but also create long-term positive impacts on the livelihoods and well-being of the community.In terms of environmental considerations, the project took measures to minimize its ecological footprint. Instead of using larger, fuel-intensive trucks, the project opted for smaller 10-tonne trucks, reducing fuel consumption and minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, the project raised awareness among beneficiaries about proper waste disposal practices, promoting environmental sustainability. The procurement of less-fuel-consuming beans further demonstrated the project's commitment to environmental conservation.

Locally Led Indigenous Nature Based Solutions For Climate Change Adaptation In Zimbabwe (LINCZ)

The LINCZ project encompasses a range of interventions aimed at building the climate change adaptation capacity of targeted communities in Binga District. These interventions include protection of wetlands for improved biodiversity, promotion of Conservation Agriculture, apiculture in wetlands, ISALS to improve women’s access to soft loans at community level, linkage of farmers to markets as well as poultry production. Through protection of wetlands for improved biodiversity, the project will focus on conserving and protecting wetland ecosystems, recognizing their importance for biodiversity. Furthermore, the protection of wetlands will safeguard the ecological integrity of wetlands, promoting the conservation of diverse plant and animal species. The project plans to engage in apiculture, or beekeeping, within the protected wetland areas. This intervention offers economic opportunities for both women and men while supporting the ecological health of the wetlands. Beekeeping is envisaged to provide income generation and promote biodiversity conservation through pollination services provided by bees. Further to increasing household income generation and increased access to soft loans by vulnerable households, the project will facilitate the establishment and capacitation of ISALS groups. The scheme aims to improve women's access to soft loans, empowering them economically and enhancing their resilience to climate change impacts. Project shall also facilitate market linkage of farmers to markets. The project shall ensure that farmers’ produce reaches buyers effectively. By strengthening market linkages, farmers will access better prices and opportunities for income generation, thereby enhancing their adaptive capacity. As part of the project, there will be a specific focus on promoting Conservation Agriculture plus (CA+) in Binga District, with an emphasis on incorporating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). CA+ is a climate-smart approach to farming that is particularly well-suited for arid regions like Binga, especially in the context of climate change and variability. Conservation Agriculture plus builds upon the principles of Conservation Agriculture but expands its scope to include additional sustainable farming practices. These practices include agroforestry, integrated pest management, water management techniques, and the use of organic fertilizers. By integrating these additional components, CA+ aims to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems, improve soil health, and increase productivity while mitigating the impacts of climate change. More so, in Binga District, where aridity and climate variability pose significant challenges, the adoption of CA+ can provide multiple benefits. By minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining soil cover, diversifying crop rotations, and incorporating Indigenous Knowledge Systems, farmers can improve water retention in the soil, reduce erosion, and enhance the overall health and fertility of their farmland. Overarchingly, the promotion of Conservation Agriculture plus with a focus on incorporating Indigenous Knowledge Systems will contribute to building resilience, enhancing food security, and mitigating climate change impacts in Binga District. CA+ provides a holistic and context-specific approach to sustainable farming that is well-suited for the region's arid conditions and changing climate patterns. The project will support poultry production initiatives, which can provide a sustainable source of protein and income for communities. Poultry farming can be a climate-resilient livelihood option, and its promotion contributes to building adaptive capacity. The proposed project also aims to address the challenges posed by anthropogenic activities and promote sustainable land use practices in the degraded wetlands of Binga District. The key components of the project include the establishment of fenced smallholder irrigation schemes adjacent to the wetlands, drilling boreholes for irrigation water supply, and utilizing solar energy for pumping water. By facilitating the establishment of fenced smallholder irrigation schemes, the project intends to move farmers away from practicing agriculture directly within the wetlands. This relocation will help reduce the anthropogenic pressure on the wetlands and provide an opportunity for the wetlands to replenish and recover their biodiversity. Each irrigation scheme will accommodate 50 farmers, allowing them to continue their agricultural activities in a more sustainable manner. To provide water for irrigation, boreholes will be drilled at each site. Solar energy will be utilized to power the pumps that extract water from the boreholes. This approach not only ensures a sustainable and renewable energy source but also reduces dependence on the wetlands as a direct water source. By using alternative water sources, the project aims to alleviate the pressure on the wetlands and facilitate their replenishment. In addition to the irrigation schemes, the project plans to engage in apiculture within the wetlands. Both women and men will have the opportunity to practice beekeeping, which provides economic benefits while supporting the ecological health of the wetlands. This integrated approach combines sustainable agriculture in the adjacent irrigation schemes with activities that promote biodiversity and conservation within the wetlands.

International Recognition

Our work gained international attention with the launch of the Climate Resilience Innovation Hub, attracting partnerships with global organizations and academic institutions.

Present Day

Today, KMTC continues to grow its impact, with a focus on scaling successful initiatives, deepening community partnerships, and advocating for policy changes that support sustainable agricultural practices.