Climate Change Wreaks Havoc in Peri-Urban Bulawayo

Small holder farmers in peri-urban Bulawayo ward 17 community are still counting their loses due to climate change induced drought that scotched all their field crops leaving them food insecure and dependent on food aid.

When news reached the farmers in November 2021 that Zimbabwe is going to expirienced an above normal and extended rainy season, most of the small holder farmers went out to prepare their fields under the government promoted Pfumvudza/Intwasa farming programme.

However, the dry spell that hit Bulawayo and Matabeleland in February, scotched all the crops including the small grains whipping out all that the farmers had worked hard for.

Farmers who spoke to Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights expressed concern on how they will finish the year should there be no food aid coming their way. They also lamented lack of pastures for their domestic livestock.

Some farmers are now pinning their hopes on the resuscitation of community gardens which can be irrigated through solar powered boreholes. The 4 ward 17 peri-urban villages of St Peters, Robert Sinyoka, New Mazwi and Methodist (all known as Hyde Park) have more than 10 community gardens which can be revived, solar powered and provide resilience for the small holder farmers.