CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY: AN ANALYSIS OF ACTION CONTRA LA FAIM’S (ACF) INTERVENTIONS IN CHIPINGE DISTRICT, ZIMBABWE

Abstract

Food insecurity among smallholder farmers in agricultural marginal areas of Zimbabwe has been on the increase despite government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) efforts to curb it. Using Action Contra la Faim’s (ACF) Conservation Agriculture (CA) interventions across three wards in Chipinge district in Zimbabwe as a case study, the study investigated the impacts of CA on household food security. A total of 200 close-ended questionnaires were administered to 200 beneficiaries of CA. Qualitative techniques used in data collection include Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions and Participant Observation. Statistical Package for Social Scientists and thematic analysis were used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Preliminary findings indicate that household food insecurity remains high despite the introduction of CA. Interlinkages of social, economic and ecological drivers have been noted as possible contributors to these outcomes. The study concludes that there is need for local level participation in designing developmental projects.