By Caroline Chiimba
108 farmers in Kariba district who received fencing material and seed input to set up nutrition gardens last year under the Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA) funded Community-led Adaptation of Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) project have started harvesting their first cycle crops.
This comes after 158 farmers from Kariba and Gokwe North districts received support from Nutrition Action Zimbabwe and partners like Action Against Hunger, MyTrees, PORET and government extension officers – to set up community and individual nutrition gardens. The farmers also underwent vital training on FAP concept, pollinator identification and monitoring, climate change, agroecology, soil and water management practical.
While some crops comprising of tomatoes and butternuts are still at flowering and fruiting stage, the farmers have harvested 1047 cucumbers, 331 watermelon, 363 bundles of pumpkin leaves and 433 plates of okra, and they expect to harvest more in the coming weeks.
“Most farmers in the project wards are diversifying their revenue streams by selling surplus crops like pumpkin leaves, watermelons, and cucumbers. This development has enhanced dietary diversity for households thus improving nutrition, and generated US$550 income from selling surplus,” Mumford Chinzou, NAZ Agric officer based in Kariba said.

“The project is also supporting biodiversity restoration with a diverse range of pollinator species, including honeybees, carpenter bees, sweat bees, mining bees, butterflies, moths, and hoverflies being observed by farmers across all garden sites.
“To attract pollinators in this Farming with Alternative Pollinators concept, farmers planted coriander herbs on the boarders of their community gardens. Ward 6 gardens and ward 8 individual gardens showed particularly high diversity and abundance of pollinators, likely due to the variety of flowering crops available.”
In partnership with University of Zimbabwe’s Dr Bara, Nutrition Action Zimbabwe trained Kariba farmers on how to identify and monitor pollinators.

“The presence of pollinating insects in crop fields is an essential factor for agricultural production and pollinator conservation. A high biodiversity of pollinators can lead to higher quality crops. Hence the need to monitor pollinators to ensure that they are having the desired effect on the crops,” he said.
Siakobvu based government agriculture extension officer Chipamba also highlighted that pollinators were often overlooked, yet they have the power to reduce farmers’ reliance on harmful chemical pesticides, promote biodiversity, and ensure the long-term health of crops and the surrounding ecosystem.
“This is a great project for the community as it encourages organic food production which promotes good health and nutrition, while also taking care of the environment through gulley reclamation, tree planting and pollinator multiplication,” Chipamba said.

Research highlights that one key benefit of using alternative pollinators in farming is the potential for increased crop yields. Many crops, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts, rely on pollinators to transfer pollen from one plant to another, facilitating the process of fertilization and ultimately leading to the production of fruits and seeds. Without adequate pollination, these crops may fail to produce the desired yields, leading to economic losses for farmers. Thus, using alternative pollinators, farmers can ensure that their crops receive the necessary pollination services, resulting in higher yields and increased profits.
In addition to boosting crop yields, farming with alternative pollinators also offers significant benefits for environmental conservation. Pollinators such as native bees and butterflies, play crucial roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems by pollinating wild plants, supporting biodiversity, and promoting soil health. Providing habitat for these pollinators and integrating them into agricultural landscapes can help to protect and restore natural ecosystems while also benefiting crops.
Farming with alternative pollinators offers a promising path towards sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation in communities around the world – while nutrition gardens play a crucial role in enhancing dietary diversity for households, food production and improve nutrition outcomes in vulnerable communities like Siakobvu Kariba.