For many farmers across Zimbabwe, each farming season has become a gamble. One year the rains arrive too late, the next they disappear too soon. Scorching heat, exhausted soils, and unpredictable weather have made it harder for families to rely on agriculture for food and income.
Yet, across rural communities, a quiet transformation is taking place. By learning together, testing new ideas in their own fields, and sharing experiences openly, farmers are finding practical ways to adapt to a changing climate.
This transformation is being driven by the Climate Resilient Livelihoods (CRL) project, implemented by the Government of Zimbabwe with support from the Green Climate Fund and UNDP. Through the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach, the project is helping communities build climate resilience from the ground up.

Learning by Doing: The Farmer Field Schools Approach

Farmer Field Schools bring smallholder farmers together to learn directly in the field, guided by extension officers. Instead of top-down instruction, farmers observe crops, analyse challenges, test solutions, and make decisions together. The approach strengthens critical thinking, confidence, and local problem-solving, placing farmers at the centre of innovation.
Under the CRL project, 230 Farmer Field Schools were established in rain-fed farming areas, directly benefiting about 6,900 lead farmers. Within these schools, farmers:
•    Experiment with climate-smart farming techniques in real-life conditions
•    Share successes and failures with peers
•    Develop solutions tailored to their local climate and soils
This bottom-up approach ensures that solutions are practical, adaptable, and owned by the community, making them more sustainable over time.

Farming Practices That Build Resilience
Drawing on lessons from the schools, the project developed an FFS-based manual that documents proven strategies farmers use to adapt to climate change while improving productivity.

Restoring Soil Health through Agroecology

Healthy soils are the foundation of resilient farming. Through FFS, farmers are adopting natural, low-cost practices such as:
•    Composting to recycle organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer
•    Mulching to conserve moisture, reduce evaporation, and suppress weeds
•    Crop rotation to maintain soil fertility and reduce pests
•    Intercropping to maximise yields and strengthen beneficial crop interactions

Making Every Drop Count: Water Conservation

With erratic rainfall now the norm, farmers are learning how to protect and efficiently use water through:
•    Rainwater harvesting for supplementary irrigation
•    Conservation agriculture to reduce soil disturbance and retain moisture
•    Drip irrigation systems that deliver water directly to plant roots

Choosing Crops That Can Withstand Climate Stress

FFS encourages farmers to rethink crop choices by promoting:
•    Drought-tolerant varieties suited to harsh conditions
•    Early maturing seeds that reduce the risk of crop failure
•    Indigenous crops that are naturally adapted to local climates

Protecting Crops Naturally: Integrated Pest Management

To reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, farmers are embracing eco-friendly pest control methods, including:
•    Using natural predators such as ladybugs and spiders
•    Preparing botanical pesticides from neem, garlic, and chilli
•    Crop diversification to break pest and disease cycles

Agroforestry and Biodiversity Conservation

Planting trees alongside crops is delivering multiple benefits:
•    Improved soil structure and fertility
•    Reduced erosion and protection of water sources
•    Windbreaks that shield crops from extreme weather

Transforming Farming, Transforming Lives

By adopting these climate-smart practices, farmers are not only improving yields but also rebuilding confidence, strengthening food security, and securing their livelihoods against climate shocks. Farmer Field Schools have become spaces of learning, leadership, and collective action, where farmers move from uncertainty to informed decision-making. This initiative is about more than agriculture. It is about empowerment, resilience, and a sustainable future for Zimbabwe’s farming communities, one field, one season, and one shared lesson at a time.

Would you like to learn more?
Download the full Farmer Field Schools manual and start applying these climate-smart practices in your own farming journey.

Click link to download