Conservation Agriculture and Stewardship Promotion Programme

For many women in Zimbabwe, losing a husband is more terrifying than death itself. Losing a husband means a life full of suffering, including being isolated by the husband’s family and the community, and facing hunger and poverty. However, after Sheilah participated in the Foundations for Farming’s conservation farming and land management training, her life improved, and she became a role model for other widows.

After the death of her husband, Sheilah and her two children lost their economic support, and life became difficult. She had to rely on odd jobs and begging her neighbours for food to survive, with the whole community referring to her as a beggar. ‘For me, it was already hard enough to prepare two meals a day for my children, let alone three. Sometimes, we had no choice but to go for many days with empty stomachs.’

Sheilah first encountered Foundations for Farming in 2019 and attended a two-week training on conservation farming and land management. Initially, she was hesitant and only dared to use a small portion of her land to try conservation farming. The results exceeded her expectations, providing enough food for her and her two children, and she no longer needed to beg her neighbours. Since then, Sheilah has actively practiced conservation farming and the land management principles from Foundations for Farming, teaching her two children to join her. She expanded the area of land using conservation farming techniques, worked with her children to produce more food, and sold the surplus to generate income. Over time, Sheilah began to save money and gradually expanded her house, even building an outdoor toilet.

In 2022, Foundations for Farming entered Sheilah’s community to promote conservation farming and invited her to join the training team to help more farmers learn conservation farming and land management skills, working towards self-sufficiency. Additionally, Sheilah found a job as an agricultural instructor at the community college, bringing in a stable additional income for her family. Her son is currently studying construction at the community college and is about to graduate. Sheilah also encourages her daughter to follow her brother’s path and enrol in the same community college next year to study agriculture.

‘Since adopting the conservation farming and land management principles from Foundations for Farming, my life has changed significantly. Thanks to the increased income from my land, I was able to expand my house and build a toilet, no longer needing to beg for survival. This ‘conservation farming and land management training’ has been a lifesaver for me! As a widow, my house used to be small and dilapidated, and I couldn’t host family or neighbours, but now my house looks great! I can even afford to buy pots and pans now. Today, I can walk around the community with my head held high, feeling proud and confident, because I’m no longer a beggar!’ Sheilah said with a smile. ‘I am grateful to Foundations for Farming and CEDAR Fund for providing me with invaluable training, which has opened new opportunities for me and my children.’

Sheilah’s effort and determination have transformed her family’s situation from struggling to survive to thriving. Now, she can provide for herself and her children, enjoy life, and help her children pursue their academic goals. With Sheilah as an example, we look forward to implementing the ‘Conservation Farming and Financial Management Project’ by Foundations for Farming in Kanyaga, which will similarly bring change to the poor farmers in the Kanyaga community.