Sustainable Farming and Food Security Enhancement through Agroecological Practices

Our entry project, to be refined after the on-going community needs assessments, focuses on agroecology for sustainable farming and food and nutrition security. It will be implemented in all 20 villages of Ward 13. The key components of the project include:

• Training of extension agents, farmers and youths on agroecology (each village will be expected to select 2 Agroecology Champions to undergo in-depth training and in turn provide in-depth training to their villages).

• Training, production and marketing of bambara nuts (round nuts), locally known as nyimo in the Shona language, and to be rotated with cereal crops (maize to begin with).

• Small livestock production and integration in agroecology (indigenous chickens, egg-layers, rabbits, honey production).

• Empowering women and youth.

Estimated total cost for 2 years = USD30,000 to cover the following costs:

• Agroforestry planting materials and nurseries (centralized and village level)

• Village level training sessions and planning meetings

• Procuring good quality seed for the Bambara nuts for demonstration of good production practices

• Starter animals (rabbits, hens, bees)

• Supplies (including compost making), equipment / tools

• Logistical/operational support

• Staff costs and expert trainer fees

• Aggregation costs for the bambara nuts (packaging materials; transport; storage space – shed/building installation or rentals; weighing equipment; protective canvas; warehouse management system development; data collection and management tools/ equipment; etc.)

Feeling motivated to support this entry project? Please contact the Wandutso Trust Team.

Timeframe: October 2025 – December 2027

Estimated Budget: USD30,000

• Outcome 1: Increased awareness, knowledge and skills on agroecology roles and benefits for enhanced agriculture, food and nutrition security, as well as income generation by target communities.
• Outcome 2: Target community makes better-informed decisions on agroecology for resilience building in coping with climate change, regenerating degraded lands, and improving their socio-economic situation.

• 4 central agroforestry nurseries at cluster level
• 20 village level agroforestry nurseries (one per village)
• At least 40 female and male Village Champions on Agroecology (2 per village)
• Stock for small livestock (rabbits, etc.) raised
• At least 10 established bee hives for honey production
• A co-created comprehensive scoping report on agroecology, nutrition and other thematic areas for the target area / villages
• A co-created comprehensive evidence and needs-based proposal for use in mobilising resources for subsequent projects
• At least 1 tonne of bambara nuts produced per village (at least 20 tonnes total)
• At least 0.5 tonnes bambara nuts sold per village (at least 10 tonnes in total)

i. All households in the 20 villages
ii. 4 development centers/missions/schools
iii. 2 agricultural extension agents