Food insecurity is a constant concern throughout Zimbabwe, where more than 7.9 million people live in extreme poverty.
Persistent droughts have worsened the livelihoods of communities in Zimbabwe, particularly in the Hwange district, where Priscilla lives.
“We had plenty of rains at first but as time has gone by, the rains have become erratic and hence the yields have been reduced,” Priscilla said.
Priscilla’s family, in fact, the whole region could no longer rely on their farms for both food and income – causing entire communities to face increased levels of poverty and hunger.
Priscilla walking her grandchildren to school. Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia
Priscilla had to spend her days walking the long distance to the nearest borehole to pump water and carry it back to their home so her family had enough water for drinking, cooking and keeping an essential vegetable garden.
The family also lost their cattle to the prolonged drought, losing the safety-net of livestock they would normally sell to sustain their income during times of hardship.
Priscilla’s family are not alone. There are many families from vulnerable regions around the world facing the impacts of climate change that is pushing them further into poverty.
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Priscilla's story
How conservation farming can tackle extreme drought
Rural communities in Zimbabwe have suffered from incessant droughts that have affected most of the traditional livelihood strategies, which are based on regular rainfall to grow crops and feed livestock.
- The droughts have led to a decrease in crop production, shortage of water and poor livestock quality.
- Children stopped going to school because of the shortage of food,
- Many women and girls had to dedicate most of their time searching for food or collecting water.
With the support of Caritas Hwange, Priscilla and her community learnt conservation farming to grow drought-resistant crops. She was able to produce a bumper harvest in her first year of using conservation farming and from her increased harvest, she was able to sell her crops and start poultry farming, selling eggs to help pay for her grandchildren’s education.
With the knowledge and skills acquired through the program, Priscilla and her family have a safety net to protect them during this current drought.
Priscilla feeds her broiler chickens at her home in Hwange district, north western Zimbabwe. Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia
“With the poultry project running, this will be an income-generating source that will help us survive even during droughts.”
Together, we can create lasting change For All Future Generations
Caritas Australia and our partners have been working alongside local communities in Zimbabwe for decades to tackle poverty. These locally-run programs, funded by generous people like you, provide vulnerable families like Priscilla’s with a secure source of food and income, clean water and sanitation.
Right now, more than 828 million people worldwide are experiencing hunger. But we can change this. Together, we can create lasting change for people like Priscilla.
Priscilla, Zimbabwe, learned conservation farming to produce drought-resistant crops. Photo: Richard Wainwright.
