THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the government of Zimbabwe — co-ordinated by the Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion ministry, with participation of the Office of the President and Cabinet (M&E Directorate) and the Lands, Environment, Women Affairs, and Energy ministries — visited Makoholi Research Institute in Masvingo to track progress at one of the project’s innovation platforms, supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Makoholi is one of five GCF-supported innovation platforms nationwide, and one of two in Masvingo province. Together with an estimated 230 farmer field schools linked to the programme, the station has reached about 1 500 follower farmers — 64% women and 36% men — showing broad, community-driven uptake of climate-smart production.
On site, the delegation saw a practical dryland toolkit in action. In the livestock nutrition and feed-processing unit, demonstrations covered urea-treated stover — lifting crude protein from under 3% to about 18% when correctly processed — alongside protein blocks, agro-forestry leaf fodders and low-cost ration formulation using locally- available inputs. Farmers train on equipment already delivered to the station: silage cutters, hammer mills, feed mixers and multipurpose shellers, including mobile units taken to field trainings.
Field plots showcased drought-resilient options for Natural Regions IV–V: 15 varieties of spineless cactus, velvet bean, lablab and improved dryland cereals such as sorghum and pearl millet. Small-stock and poultry activities are underway. Day-old chicks are being co-financed and distributed to lead and follower farmers at US$0,50 per chick. Breed improvement in sheep is advancing by placing ewes and rams with lead farmers. Awareness and demand creation for climate-smart Mashona cattle is in progress, with some farmer field schools mobilising savings to procure animals.
Cutting feed costs is another focus. Three azolla ponds — each roughly 2×3 metres — are producing fast-multiplying aquatic fern that can be fed fresh, mixed into rations or dried and stored, offering an accessible, replicable protein input across poultry and livestock.
Data will soon guide more day-to-day decisions. A near-ready feed-analysis laboratory — equipped for proximate analysis of protein, ash and fibre — has been installed through GCF support, with government co-financing fittings and workstations. Once operational, services will be offered on a fee-for-service basis to sustain reagents and operations.
Knowledge is moving beyond the station through flyers and posters, vernacular materials, field days and local radio such as Great Zimbabwe FM — communications that reinforce hands-on learning in the farmer field schools and speed adoption of practices tested at the innovation platform.
The visit underscored tangible gains: a five-site platform network linked to around 230 farmer field schools; demonstrations anchored by delivered equipment; three azolla ponds supplying home-grown protein; and an outreach footprint of roughly 1 500 farmers — nearly two-thirds women. With the feed-analysis lab approaching service and cost recovery built into its model, the programme is positioned to strengthen everyday choices on feed quality and production across the farmer network.
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