“It’s all the work of nature”
Through an innovative agricultural approach, smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe are restoring pollinators for improved livelihoods and climate resilience.
Lazarus Sianjalika in his 'farming with alternative pollinators' plot, where he is growing pumpkins (Photo: copyright Nutrition Action Zimbabwe)
In the remote rural community of Neganda in Zimbabwe’s Kariba region, farmer Lazarus Sianjalika has spent over 30 years working the land, building deep agricultural knowledge in the process. Now a fresh approach, which puts pollinators at the heart of food security, has given him the chance to try something new.
A project led by Nutrition Action Zimbabwe has introduced Sianjalika and other farmers to the ‘Farming with Alternative Pollinators’ method (FAP), designed to support smallholder farmers improve crop productivity and resilience while promoting ecosystem restoration. Through the FAP approach, farmers gain the tools and knowledge to experiment, adapt and integrate pollinator-friendly practices tailored to their local contexts.
The project is funded by Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia – a programme supporting research and action in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia by offering grants, and facilitating mutual learning and technical support between partners. IIED manages the REDAA programme, which currently supports 28 locally-led initiatives across 25 countries, strengthening evidence, tools and governance to help people and nature thrive.
Pollinator diversity – such as a mix of bees, butterflies, moths and even bats – ensures that crops are still pollinated under different climatic conditions and with varying plant species.
“I learnt that pollinator diversity provides a form of protection for agricultural ecosystems. If one type of pollinator declines, others may be able to step in and fill the gap,” Sianjalika explains, reflecting on the training. As a result, he reports improved yields and quantities, and has made the largest income ever from the selling surplus after feeding his family.
Sianjalika has also replaced chemical insecticides with organic techniques, such as planting flowering coriander around crops to attract more pollinator species to his garden.
This is not a small thing; the training was wonderful and enlightening. The same plant that gave me three fruits before now gives me ten. This concept is so productive and I’m implementing it again for this second cropping cycle. The plants are strong because they are being properly pollinated, and it’s all the work of nature
– Lazarus Sianjalika, farmer
- Read more about this story of farming practices that are transforming landscapes and livelihoods.
The REDAA programme is funded by UK Aid from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
