This year, the rains were late in Zimbabwe. Because of El Niño, many maize farmers were left without the water they needed during the crucial growing season in February.
The next rainy season, from October to December, is also likely to be drier than usual. With crop failures anticipated across the country, about 6 million people are expected to be food-insecure.
This is not the first time that El Niño has brought food insecurity to southern Africa, where most agriculture is entirely reliant on rainfall. But exacerbated by climate change, these protracted dry spells are causing ever more severe damage to rural communities.
In the face of challenging conditions, small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe's southeastern drylands are standing strong - and irrigating their way to food security.
Not a drop goes to waste
Despite the drought, Aaron's small maize field in Masvingo Province is producing plenty for him to get by. He's part of the Banga Irrigation Scheme, which was rehabilitated in 2021 through the IFAD-supported SIRP initiative.
The initiative converted the open canals that previously carried water to the fields into a piped surface system. By greatly reducing wastage, this has ensured that water is used as efficiently as possible.
"In a year like this one, in which we have received very little rain, the rehabilitation has enabled us to conserve what little water we have," Aaron says. "This will allow us to plant another crop."
Aaron expects to harvest enough maize not only to feed his family but to sell to the national Grain Marketing Board, which distributes grain to vulnerable groups.
Irrigating resilience
Across Zimbabwe's south-east, SIRP has brought climate-resilient water infrastructure to over 4,000 hectares of farmland. But the Banga scheme has made a particular impact - in fact, it was declared the best irrigation scheme in the country, ahead of 450 others.
Faith is another small-scale farmer who has newfound resilience thanks to the scheme. Leading her household as a widow is easier now that she's able to grow enough to feed her family.
"Compared to other dryland farmers, we have better crops and more food-security," she says. "We hope that we will be able to sell some of our grain to the community, as well as to the national grain reserve."
Things are going so well that Faith has even hired people from her community to help with the harvest, enabling them to earn for their own families.
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Adapting to a changing world
Modernizing water infrastructure is just one of the ways SIRP is driving climate adaptation in Zimbabwe. With the initiative's support, farmers are also returning to drought-resilient crops, like sorghum and cowpeas, and practicing conservation agriculture.
As climate change makes natural weather phenomena like El Niño more extreme, it is essential for rural communities to build resilience. Adapting agricultural practices and infrastructure ensures that farmers like Aaron and Faith can continue to feed themselves and their communities for years to come.
