Education Zimbabwe Project #20928

Train Primary Teachers in Conservation Agriculture

by Zimbabwe Educational Trust (ZET)

Project Report | Sep 9, 2026
Foundations for Farming September 2026 Update

By Andrew Jackson | Operations Manager

Women's group farming

As we come to the end of this three-year project, we are seeing strong evidence that its central approach has worked: using primary schools as hubs for Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) has helped knowledge and practice spread into surrounding communities. Beneficiaries have gained practical farming and wider life skills, with more than 80% of those observed applying CSA principles on their household plots and 88% of interviewed pupil prize winners sharing their learning with family and friends.

The project has made an important contribution to food security and nutrition despite consecutive drought seasons. School gardens supported feeding for more than 1,300 pupils, exceeding our target of 1,200, while household and community gardens have improved access to nutritious food and provided opportunities to generate income. Kanyaga Primary School's feeding programme was recognised as the best supplementary school feeding programme in Makonde District last year.

As we complete the project, its impact is continuing to ripple outwards. Around three-quarters of Community Open Day attendees (members of the community!) established their own nutrition gardens, while women's groups based at schools have developed savings groups and additional income-generating activities. We are now focused on capturing the learning from these three years and considering what's next.

Chickens for high protein eggs in the school diet

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May 13, 2026
Foundations for Farming May 2026 Update

By Andrew Jackson | Operations Manager

Pupils proudly show their maize crops.

School Feeding Programmes (Crops and Eggs)

Kanyaga School

There is strong integration between the nutrition garden outputs and school feeding activities. Vegetables produced in the school gardens are being incorporated into meals, reinforcing the link between Climate Smart Agricultural practices and improved dietary diversity. Eggs are also contributing to the feeding programme where available, supporting protein intake for pupils. This shows a functioning school-level value chain between production and consumption.

Chihwiti School

There is limited evidence of meaningful integration of crops or eggs into the school feeding programme. This aligns with the broader challenges at the site, particularly water scarcity and underdeveloped garden production. As a result, reliance on external food inputs for school feeding is likely to remain high.Bottom of Form

Kemukaka School

Kemukaka shows the most developed linkage between agricultural production and school feeding. Produce from the gardens is being used to supplement meals, and there are indications of broader dietary diversification within the school feeding programme. Egg production (where present) is also contributing to meal provision, although scale is limited. The strong organisational capacity of the women’s group appears to be a key enabler of consistent food supply into the feeding programme.

Kanyaga School

Successes

At Kanyaga school we saw srong pupil participation during February and March visits, including weeding, watering and mulching activities in the plots and vegetable beds
The women’s group showed increasing resilience and productivity. By April, the group had established 52 vegetable beds of covo and 15 women had active plots at home. The women also demonstrated initiative by raising money to repair broken taps in the garden
Evidence of Climate Smart Agricultural uptake beyond the school was noted through the Deputy Headmistress, Mrs Masike, who reportedly achieved a 1,200kg maize harvest using CSA methods in her personal field.

Chihwiti School

Successes

Sadly, few significant successes have occured during the reporting period. The main positive indication is that plans remained in place to establish plots within the women’s garden. Severe water shortages dominate issue affecting implementation and

Kemukaka School

Successes

Volunteers and women from the garden group are consistently highly active in school project activities.
The women’s group has demonstrated strong ownership of the project, including purchasing their own vegetable seeds and organising themselves into maintenance teams.
Women were actively applying Climate Smart Agricultural techniques from the project into their personal plots.
The group achieved a maize harvest and continued supplementary planting, including green mealies and butternuts.

Thanks to all for every bit of support in this challenging and valuable project.

Women work on their nutritious compost

ZET team meet a pupil farming prize winner

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Jan 13, 2026
Foundations for Farming January 2026 Update

By Andrew Jackson | Operations Manager

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