farming in Mthwakazi drylands

Food security is the moral right of all citizens in Matabeleland. Equitable access to nutritious, safe food for all is a fundamental human right; it is essential for human dignity, health, and societal and political stability. With that in mind, we argue that until Matabeleland eradicates food insecurity and poverty in the region, we will not see right or wrong but go with whoever promises the next food donation.

Any society that delegates food security to grocery stores and foreign suppliers increases risk of losing its independence, dignity and expediates disconnection from its traditional dietary choices and interaction with the environment. The responsibility for efficient and stable food supplies must lie with every individual in the community and leadership, starting with local communities right up the chain of command to national government must work on policies that enable efficient, safe farming and agriculture methods that not only ensure food security but also prioritise preservation of the environment.

Regarding challenges of food insecurity in Matabeleland, there must be moral clarity in our law makers to address the root causes of the problem and work on policy reforms and community empowerment. It has long been understood that social justice and food insecurity are intricately linked; this is because food insecurity is not just about not having enough food, it is secondary to systemic inequalities such as tribalism, poverty and lack of opportunity that create unequal access to better paying jobs, excuses suppression of wages for certain industries and population groups leading to unequal access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food thus, making healthy eating – a fundamental human right – denied to marginalised communities.

That in 2025 and exactly 45 years into Zimbabwe’s independence poor climate (poor rains, poor soil, and high temperatures) in Matabeleland continues to negatively impact farming and agriculture in the region and hunger and food insecurity are a persistent and real threat to Matabeleland people’s very existence is an unprecedented abdication of personal and leadership responsibility and a ubiquitous benchmark of abnormality.

Communities and their leaders must lead the efforts to transform Matabeleland into a thriving farming and agriculture region. Nobody denies the enormity of the task ahead when we factor in climate and the many years of neglect of the region. We must be clear on that the restoration of the dignity of the region and its people is heavily linked to the restoration of food security and re-establishment of connections between communities and their natural resources. Matabeleland has a subtropical climate with distinct wet (November-March/April) and dry (May-October) seasons, characterized by hot, rainy summers and cool, dry winters, however, due to climate change, there is more erratic rainfall and increased drought frequency, impacting agriculture with extreme heat and stressed groundwater making farming and agriculture difficult.

Investment in smart techniques of dry farming or dryland farming like water conservation (drip irrigation, water harvesting), soil improvement (adding organic matter, biochar), windbreaks, and selecting drought-tolerant crops – methods that focus on efficient use of scarce water and creating a more hospitable environment for plant growth is our hope.

Water management and conservation

Drip irrigation: Delivers water directly to the plant’s roots, minimising evaporation and waste.

Water harvesting: Collects and concentrates rainwater, often using swales (shallow ditches that direct water to crops).

Dry farming: Relies primarily on rainfall and soil moisture, timing planting to maximise the use of available water without irrigation.

Soil improvement

Increase organic matter: Incorporate compost, crop waste, and manure to improve water retention and soil structure.

Use biochar: A form of charcoal that can hold water and nutrients, benefiting the soil.

Add nutrients: Use ash and inoculated biochar to provide beneficial microorganisms and nutrients to the soil.

Creating a protective environment

Plant windbreaks: Use rows of trees, shrubs, or grasses to shield crops from wind and reduce evaporation.

Using drought-tolerant plants for hedges around gardens for protection.

Avoid or minimise deep tilling as it can damage soil structure.

Crop and plant selection

Plant drought-tolerant crops.

Use adaptive species: Choose highly adaptive, drought-tolerant species for both crops and windbreaks.

Diversify crops: Planting a variety of crops can help minimize pest problems.

Other techniques to consider

Planting pits: Digging small pits and filling them with organic matter helps capture moisture and nutrients for seeds.

Mulching: Cover the soil with organic materials like pruning residues to help retain moisture.

Crop rotation: Rotate crops like wheat, rye, oats, and legumes to prevent soil loss and maintain field health.

Securing farming and agricultural activity in Matabeleland requires a multi-faceted approach, combining large-scale infrastructure investment with community-level conservation and innovative solutions to combat the severe impacts of climate change on this arid region. We must find sustainable farming methods that will help us establish food independence, so we can have real control over our life choices, control over the cost and quality of what we eat, and sustenance of our natural resources – land and water, among others.