Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Crop Intensification: A Zimbabwe Case Study

Agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe, like in many other countries in SSA has been declining over the years despite the numerous advancements madein agricultural technology development. Yield levels usually averaging below 1t ha-1 have resulted in persistent cereal deficits despite the large area put under production each year. Declining soil fertility, erratic precipitation patterns, high input costs and unstable market conditions have all affected the profitability
and therefore the sustainability of the small holder farming sector, which provides livelihoods for the majority of the rural population.Conservation Agriculture is increasingly being seen as a farming system that can reduce the negative impacts of some of the factors that are limitingagricultural productivity. Its component technologies of minimum soil
disturbance, maintenance of organic ground cover and the use of suitable crop rotations and interactions have shown the potential to mitigate some of theproduction constraints experienced in the country’s agricultural production.
The potential for CA to reduce soil erosion and water runoff and increase economic returns in production systems have been shown by local research.