1. Enhancing the adoption of animal traction conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe Walter Mupangwa, Christian Thierfelder, Isaiah Nyagumbo, Stephanie Cheesman 28 March 2011

2. Projects focus

3. Fitarelli jab-planterAT Direct seederMagoye ripper Basin planting Promotion of CA equipment

4. Capacity building - NGOs and NARES in the use of animal traction CA systems Development and dissemination of CA equipment Provision of a credit facility to farmers to purchase CA equipment and herbicides Pre-season training of implementing partners

5. Projects design

6. Work with partners – innovation network Smallholder Farmers Input Suppliers CSFS Grownet/ HASTT CIMMYT NGOs/ AREX

7. Targeted communities – adapted research on farmers’ fields CIMMYT provides technical support to partners – training, extension materials CIMMYT conducts biophysical and socio-economic research on the animal traction CA options

8. What has worked well Training implementing partners 190 on-farm demonstrations established for 2010/11

9. Development of 2 seeder prototypes … What has worked well

10. Farmers accessing CA equipment and herbicides through a revolving fund 38 farmers bought CA equipment and glyphosate

11. Challenges Late start of the project Late delivery of inputs and CA equipment to farmers Delayed planting on CA demonstration plots

12. … Challenges Poor weed control Incessant rains in January 2011 - waterlogging

13. … Challenges Locally assembled direct seeder had multiple operational problems Lack of mulching materials Poor relations between implementing partners Long dry spell – February 2011

14. Lessons learnt Community based research – understand where technology works and does not work First year is full of challenges - > 1 season to promote technologies Working with private sector – way of promoting CA technology Partner selection critical for success – same agenda Avail credit facilities to smallholder farmers

15. Way forward More training to partners – CA equipment & herbicides Continue with revolving fund Further testing & perfecting CA equipment prototypes Bring in more partners especially CA equipment manufacturers to push prices down More research on socio-economic and biophysical impact of CA systems Provide extension materials

16. Thank you