Agricultural innovation refers to the development and application of new technologies, practices, and ideas to improve productivity, sustainability, and efficiency in agriculture. This encompasses biotechnology, sustainable farming methods, and digital agriculture. The driving motive behind these innovations is to increase crop yields, enhance food security, support sustainable agricultural systems, and reduce environmental degradation.
Such initiatives have been transformative, particularly for underprivileged communities, especially within the small-scale farming sector. This sector faces numerous limitations, including outdated technologies, limited market access, and inadequate availability of farming inputs.
For example, in Wedza, Zimbabwe, a Tobit regression model was applied to improve sweet potato farming. Farmers received training in irrigation techniques and participated in on-farm trials, resulting in notable success. According to the National Agricultural Policy Framework (2019–2030), sweet potato biofortification has positioned the crop as a viable climate change adaptation strategy for poor rural farmers, due to its lower resource requirements compared to conventional crops like ZEA MAYS (maize).
Currently, 37% of Zimbabwean youths are employed in the agricultural sector, where the government continues to make substantial investments to equip them with essential skills for success.
Zimbabwe’s shift toward climate-smart agriculture has led to a 30% increase in the cultivation of drought-resistant crops over the past five years. This transition from traditional methods to innovative, climate-smart technologies has improved national food security, soil conservation, and organic farming practices.
One key initiative is Pfumvudza, introduced in 2020. It now supports over 1.6 million vulnerable households in the production of maize, sunflower, small grains, and soya beans. Pfumvudza is a climate-proofing agricultural concept emphasizing conservation farming on small plots of land. This well-structured approach not only promotes food security but also ensures environmental preservation.
In the Nkayi district, where 70% of farming households are vulnerable to climate change, smallholder rain-fed systems dominate. Farms with higher livestock densities face greater risks. With annual rainfall below 650 mm and frequent droughts every 2 to 5 years, production in the region remains challenging. Nkayi also records the highest poverty levels in the country.
However, improved management practices can boost crop production by over 200%. These include fertilizer micro-dosing, manure application, and changing crop composition—reducing maize in favor of groundnuts to enhance soil fertility. Market incentives also help farmers adopt these packages by linking them to value chains and encouraging integrated crop-livestock systems. With such improvements, Nkayi farmers are positioned to supply high-quality produce to the processing industry and command better prices.
Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030, smallholder irrigation development stands out as a vital strategy for reducing rural poverty. In Zimbabwe, around 10 million people—71% of the population—live below the Total Consumption Poverty Line (USD $2.31 per day), with most depending on agriculture for survival.
To address this, the National Development Strategy proposes increasing the area under irrigation by more than half. This will be achieved through investments in water harvesting, dam construction, borehole drilling, irrigation infrastructure development, and system rehabilitation. Increased agricultural output will not only strengthen food security but also enhance household incomes.