The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $10.12 million grant from the African Development Fund to increase sustainable agricultural production and fortify rural resilience in areas vulnerable to drought. In Zimbabwe, 42,000 smallholder/crop farmers and 7,000 livestock-keeping farmers are anticipated to profit from the project directly.
The group’s concessional lending arm, the African Development Fund, aids the continent’s most vulnerable nations.
Enhancing sustainable crop and livestock production and productivity, expanding market access for agricultural products, and fortifying value chain integration for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector are all goals of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Value Chain and Livelihoods Enhancement Project (AVCLEP).
The project will be implemented in Matabeleland South, Masvingo, and Bulawayo Metropolitan Province. It will target areas with high livestock populations vulnerable to harsh weather patterns.
Zimbabwe faces recurring macroeconomic instability and the impacts of climate change, including floods, droughts, and tropical storms, which affect the most vulnerable rural population.
The project’s primary focus is on climate-smart agricultural productivity and value chain enhancement, which includes rehabilitating dip tanks, developing solar-powered boreholes, and supporting crop-livestock value chains to enhance food and nutrition security; building rural communities’ livelihoods and resilience to climate change- to support integrated land use planning, landscape restoration, and catchment management to improve water security.
It also includes capacity building, social inclusion, and knowledge management to enhance technical skills, promote gender equality, foster youth empowerment, and project management to ensure efficient implementation and alignment with the African Development Bank’s rules and procedures.
The project will directly benefit 7,000 livestock-keeping farmers and 42,000 smallholder/crop farmers, with a strong emphasis on including women (50%) and youth (20%). Additionally, 90,000 community members will indirectly benefit from improved water supply, veterinary services, and livelihoods programs.
The project is expected to create 200 full-time and 2,800 seasonal jobs along the crop and livestock value chains, with average monthly household income projected to increase from $85 to $120.
The implementation is expected to start in June 2025 and be finished by December 2029.
By consistently investing, the Bank has assisted Zimbabwe’s rural development process, lowering poverty and food insecurity.
The AVCLEP project best demonstrates the government’s dedication to increasing agricultural productivity while reducing the effects of climate change. Implementing climate-smart practices and repairing vital infrastructure are anticipated to increase household earnings and food security significantly.
Source: African Development Bank Group
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