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This article was published with support from Meedan’s Independent Media Response Fund.
HWANGE (The Citizen Bulletin) — In Change ward, Matabeleland North, Constance Liteta stands by a baobab tree, showcasing a product her women’s farming club now produces. But the cracked, lifeless land around her is a stark reminder of how climate change has upended their lives.
“Changes in rainfall patterns, which have led to unpredictable seasons, have affected our farming activities. As women, we are most affected since we are the ones that provide the labor in agriculture—our food security is at risk,” she explains.
The harsh drought has caused water sources to dry up, making daily survival a growing challenge for Liteta and her neighbors.
“We are also experiencing serious water shortages, and now we are forced to walk long distances to look for water,” she adds, describing a burden that has become all too common in the region.
For farmers like Liteta, who once depended on rain-fed agriculture, these changing conditions have forced them to adopt new strategies to stay afloat. Many have shifted from traditional maize crops to more drought-resistant varieties like millet and sorghum, which offer a better chance of survival in Hwange’s increasingly arid landscape.
“We switched from maize to small grains, and it’s helped us boost our yields and secure food for our families. But one of the challenges is getting inputs on time,” Liteta says, pointing to the difficulties many farmers face in obtaining the tools and supplies necessary for a successful harvest.
The community’s reliance on ancient knowledge has also become a crucial tool in battling the drought. Local farmers have begun tapping into indigenous weather forecasting methods, which allow them to better plan for the unpredictable seasons.
“We’ve resorted to indigenous knowledge systems for weather forecasting to help us plan our farming activities,” says Rosemary Ncube, another farmer.
But even with these adaptations, survival in the face of climate change is not easy. The communal approach many farmers are adopting has helped lighten the load, with groups forming to pool resources and share innovative techniques.
“Through support from NGOs, we formed clubs where we make contributions to buy stockfeeds, medicines, and vaccines for our livestock,” says Ncube.
The resourcefulness of Hwange’s farmers extends beyond livestock care. They’ve also turned to local resources to supplement their cattle’s diet, using tree leaves and legumes to make up for the shortages in grazing pasture. Yet, as Ncube points out, the ultimate solution lies beyond their immediate reach:
“What we would need as a community to mitigate the effects of drought are solar-powered irrigation systems.”
Rosemary ncube, a farmer
While the 2014 National Climate Change Response Strategy promised measures such as drought-resistant crops and irrigation schemes, many smallholder farmers are still waiting for these interventions. Access to irrigation remains limited, and crucial drought-tolerant seeds are often out of reach for many due to high costs and logistical challenges. As drought conditions worsen, the gap between policy and practice continues to widen.
Farmers like Liteta and Ncube continue to bear the brunt of climate change with minimal support. Yet despite the odds, Ncube remains hopeful.
READ MORE: Drought Forces Farmers into Desperate Livestock Migration
“Despite the onslaught of climate change, we continue to hope that things will get better in the future. Our children, who are the next generation, depend on our resilience and abilities.”
In Hwange, where drought is becoming the new normal, that resilience may be the community’s strongest asset, but without more robust government action, the future remains uncertain.