Zimbabwe has scaled up the adoption of a technology that uses specially bred, high-yield grass as a sustainable, versatile resource to produce edible mushrooms, livestock feed and bio-fertiliser in an effort to strengthen food security, enhance climate resilience and transform rural livelihoods.
The scaling up of Juncao technology signals a strategic shift towards low-cost, climate-smart agriculture, with authorities positioning it as a key tool in boosting rural incomes, creating jobs and reducing reliance on traditional inputs while enhancing national food security.
The Juncao technology, supported by China in partnership with the United Nations, has recorded progress in its first year of implementation. The project has expanded to nine provinces, with 19 training sessions benefiting nearly 900 participants and 69 demonstration sites established nationwide.
The four major institutions that have implemented Juncao technology are the University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Open University, Chinhoyi University of Technology and Kushinga/Phikelela Agricultural College.
Government has also partnered the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the National Engineering Research Centre of Juncao Technology at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University of China to implement the programme.
The partners are holding a workshop on national capacity building under the theme: Promoting Juncao technology for resilient food systems, poverty eradication and climate adaptation in Zimbabwe.
Officially opening the workshop on Monday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development secretary Obert Jiri said the innovation was set to shift from being a pilot initiative to a nationwide agricultural solution aligned with the country’s development agenda.
“Juncao technology is not just about mushroom production; it contributes to sustainable production and productivity, climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience building, and rural industrialisation,” he said.
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The technology, which uses specially grown grass as a substrate for mushroom cultivation, is gaining traction due to its affordability and quick returns, Jiri said.
“Farmers can begin generating income within seven to 10 days, while small plots can yield significant volumes of mushroom annually.”
Jiri said the technology aligned with Zimbabwe’s Agricultural Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy (2026-30), which sought to drive economic growth, enhance food security and reduce poverty.
“We are not just adopting a new crop, but a new philosophy of innovation, sustainability and making agriculture a viable and profitable business.
“It is about creating green jobs and fostering green businesses accessible to unemployed youth, while scaling up youth and community engagement and contributing to National Development Strategy 2 outcomes of improving food security and reducing poverty,” he said.
China’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding, said the project was fully supported by his government and had made notable progress since its launch a year ago.
“Over 50 000 seedlings have been distributed to 65 households and 187 mushroom demonstration households are thriving in five provinces, with clear plans for nationwide expansion.
“Juncao serves as a powerful engine driving green agriculture, poverty reduction and improved livelihoods throughout Zimbabwe.
“Over the past year, the team has worked tirelessly on the ground, providing hands-on guidance, targeted training and localised technical solutions adapted to Zimbabwe's unique agro-ecological conditions.
“The rapid advancement of the Juncao project is a vivid testament to the robust, results-oriented co-operation between China and Zimbabwe,” he said.
