Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked, lower middle-income country in Southern Africa framed by the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers. The national extreme poverty rate stands at 43 per cent and is concentrated in rural areas.

Smallholder agriculture plays a crucial role in rural livelihoods and food security. About 70 per cent of rural people rely on rainfed subsistence agriculture which is highly vulnerable to climate change. Rangelands have been overgrazed, leading to soil erosion.

Smallholder farmers are struggling to make a living due to inadequate access to markets, land tenure insecurity, low productivity, low soil fertility and limited access to knowledge. Moreover, limited access to financial services constrains their ability to acquire inputs, such as fertilizers and labour-saving technologies.

IFAD improves the incomes and food security of the most vulnerable and marginalized rural communities, including women and young people. We do this by increasing agricultural productivity and resilience, as well as improving access to markets and creating employment opportunities.

We build climate resilience by revitalising irrigation schemes, improving entrepreneurship, and supporting financial and marketing providers.

• About 40 per cent of people live below the extreme poverty line.
• Gross domestic product is 3.2 per cent.
• Zimbabwe’s population is 16.321 million people.