By Maxine Kundishora
The beginning of change is unfolding for the people of Makoni District, with the new AHEAD Resource Centre (ARC), built to be a home-grown wisdom and innovation hub for Zimbabwe‘s upcoming visionaries. A new chapter towards community empowerment.
Africa AHEAD’s launch of the resource centre is set to shift mind-sets from dependency to self-sufficiency in agribusiness and address a critical need for agroecology development not just in Makoni District but across Zimbabwe, which was made possible through the generous funding from the SKAT Foundation and support from the Government of Zimbabwe.
Having hosted the first ever farmer-led training for 53 (19M, 34F) smallholder farmers from Ward 7 in July 2025, this was a profound start to what many described as a long-awaited return to pfumvudza, Zimbabwe’s own conservation agriculture model.
The training facilitated by government stakeholders who are gurus in agriculture, focused on blending scientific approaches with traditional wisdom, equipping farmers with the skills to farm sustainably, even amid climate shocks like droughts such as the El Nino and sporadic rainfall.
“We are returning to the roots we almost lost. This agroecologicy training was necessary considering how climate change has threatened the richness of our soil.” said Fungayi Manduna, an Agritex Extension Supervisor for Ward 7, appreciating the program.
“By combining modern science with traditional methods passed down from our African forefathers, we are restoring balance and moving away from heavy reliance on artificial inputs, which damage our land and are costly for local farmers.” she said.
The take-home for many was the wisdom shared on the use of organic matter and available local resources to build soil fertility and conserve moisture, practices that are cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
For the farmers who attended, they appreciated the added knowledge and clarity to common misconceptions.
Lyton Limbo, a farmer from Village 14 and leader of a local youth agricultural association, shared, “After a week of training, we have realised that farming does not need to be intensive to be successful. Even with just 1 hectare, we can thrive by combining crop farming with livestock and using organic methods. All 50 farmers here agree that Ward 7 will become a centre of excellence, where others from across the country can come to learn.”
Solomon Muchenje from Village 50 echoed similar sentiments, “We leave with many lessons and look forward to learning more at the ARC. As pioneers, we will share this knowledge with others. We thank all the facilitators, Africa AHEAD and SKAT Foundation and we hope this spreads to other wards in Makoni.”
A point to celebrate was the good representation from female farmers who made up the majority of attendees, with 34 females attending the training.
Olinda Munaiwa a female farmer from Village 19 shared her joy, “This training has clarified so much for us. I am proud that most participants were women. We have been empowered with agricultural knowledge, nutrition and diet education.”
Speaking futuristic, she added, “We can now feed our families with healthy organic food going forward and move away from relying on welfare handouts. This is the path to ending hunger and poverty especially after being reminded of the historical practice of storing small grains in seed banks, ensuring food security for seasons ahead.
The launch of the ARC is an answered prayer to Makoni District smallholder farmers who now have a home to learn, revive and invent innovations for generations to come.
To officiate the launch of the ARC was Member of Parliament, Honourable Walter F. Mapfumo, who graced the training with his presence and remarked the initiative. With a handshake to each participant and a certificate of completion, he congratulated everyone for the milestone. “This is a remarkable achievement towards agroecology development in Zimbabwe.” he said.
The training may have ended, but the ARC remains the beginning of a bright future ahead for the people of Makoni District.