Sustainable Agriculture & Environment
Smallholder farmers are not just food producers; they are the pillars of rural food systems and guardians of our biodiversity. Investing in their success is both a moral obligation and a sound survival strategy.
Smallholder farmers play a crucial role in food production in the global south. They remain a source of inspiration to young farmers in Malawi.
Globally, hunger and malnutrition affect millions of people, especially in rural areas, where extreme poverty and food insecurity remain deeply entrenched. Small- scale farmers produce up to 70 per cent of the food consumed in low- and middle- income countries. They are the pillars of the global food systems and the backbone of rural economies. Even in areas where modern technologies exist, they do not always reach smallholder farmers as there are limited extension services and dissemination tools. Furthermore, smallholder farmers are often excluded from the formal economy, essential agricultural value chains, and access to markets in the rural economy.
Climate Change affects smallholder farmers as they rely on natural livelihood systems and are sensitive to variations in rain, sun, and winds. Unless urgent action is taken, ensuring the food security of a growing world population will not be possible under a changing climate. Climate Change multiplies existing threats to food security. Smallholder farmers endure frequent and intense natural disasters, land and water scarcity, and crop failure. Smallholder farmers need to adopt sustainable farming practices, and in the process, they will create employment opportunities and rural development. Not only for their own sake but for all of us.
Between 713 and 757 million people may have faced hunger in 2023 – one out of 11 people in the world, and one out of every five in Africa.
- FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO (2024)
What we do
Our Farmers’ Clubs programme works with smallholder farmers to adopt sustainable farming and adapt to Climate Change.
Farmers and their families are at the centre of the activities. Farmers organise in clubs of 50, further broken into core groups of 10 - led by a step-up farmer.
Within each core group, farmers access training, strengthen their cooperation, solve challenges, and develop sound ethical practices that are in harmony with nature. Each core group has a Farmers’ Field School, a platform for hands-on training and transfer of new knowledge, enabling farmers to challenge conventional farming against sustainable and traditional farming. The Farming Instructor, who lives amongst the farmers, facilitates weekly training. Farmers learn mulching, intercropping, moisture retention, zero tillage, organic farming, drought-resistant crops, crop diversification, internal savings and lending, small-livestock rearing, agro- forestry and horticulture production.
They also exchange traditional knowledge and evaluate its use in the present conditions. Collectively, farmers organise the sale of their produce at local markets and further afar, formalise land ownership, and invest in technology for irrigation and processing.
Farmers adopt new conservation farming techniques and are utilising the latest knowledge to improve horticulture production in Zimbabwe.
The Farmer
“As I grow small grains, I feel the energy coursing through my veins.”
As a dedicated smallholder farmer, I grow small grains, tend vibrant gardens, and raise small livestock, contributing to my community through sustainable agriculture. Our sandy-loam soil and low rainfall present challenges, leading to low income and food insecurity.
Climate Change is a pressing issue here. Through DAPP Farmers’ Clubs, I have adopted farming practices designed to respond to the effects of Climate Change. Through demonstration plots, I have also learned conservation farming, focusing on drought-resistant crops like millet, rapoko, and sorghum.
This approach has allowed me to produce a surplus that covers my household’s children’s education and ensures my family has enough nutritious food. The success of our methods has attracted more members to our club, with many now practising potholing and organic farming. The establishment of the Farmers’ Clubs in Chivi has provided lasting benefits, empowering us to sustain our progress independently.
Eldah Mudyiravanji, Farmers’ Clubs Chivi, DAPP Zimbabwe
Farmers’ Clubs Chivi
The Chivi district is one of the drought-prone areas in Zimbabwe, with poor agricultural soil and being affected by global warming and Climate Change. These challenges are crippling families financially, many of whom rely on land for survival. As a result, it has become difficult for them to meet basic needs, leading to malnutrition and occasionally hunger. Farmers, including the youth, are organised into clubs to share knowledge, inspire one another and make collective decisions to thrive together. The project has established conservation demonstration plots as hands-on learning and monitoring platforms, showcasing best practices for drought-resistant small grain production. Farmers are encouraged to adopt agroforestry by planting fruit trees in their fields. The farmers keep small livestock, which helps mitigate food insecurities caused by low rainfall. In 2024, the project supported 35 Internal Savings and Lending groups with 420 farmers, who successfully secured basic needs, gas stoves and farming inputs for the 2024/2025 season. DAPP Farmers’ Clubs have provided tremendous relief to the community. Clever climate conservation techniques have gained wider acceptance among farmers engaged in field crop and garden farming, resulting in improved land management and food security.
1,503
smallholder farmers expanded their knowledge of income-generating activities, leading to increased earnings and asset accumulation.
The Community Member
“As a farmer and an active community member, I feel happy to witness our collective progress. ”
I have moved away from monoculture practices and learnt to diversify crops and livestock to build resilience against Climate Change. I’m now aware of the harm agricultural chemicals can cause to our land and health.
Through the project, we have gained new knowledge as a club that we previously lacked, such as properly managing plantains and vegetables. Our training in the model gardens and demonstration plots has improved our farming techniques. The crops we harvest have also generated additional income, positively impacting our family’s economic well-being.
This project has taught us to work the land more sustainably, fostered an appreciation for collective effort, and strengthened our community through Farmers’ Clubs. Together in the clubs, we build more sustainable means to better prepare for future challenges.
Wilthon Wilfrido Delgado Moreira, Farmers’ Clubs El Empalme Coast, Ecuador
Farmers’ Clubs El Empalme Coast, Ecuador
In Ecuador, most smallholder farmers are stuck with monoculture cultivation, which fails to cope with worsening Climate Change year after year, making it difficult to meet daily needs.
The project provides low-cost sustainable solutions and promotes the exchange of collectively gained experiences amongst the Farmers’ Clubs to support the farmers in improving their production, livelihoods, and quality of life.
At the centre of the Farmers’ Clubs are demonstration gardens and plots that serve as learning spaces to share ideas on sustainable agricultural techniques, such as the use of organic inputs, efficient irrigation, agroforestry and crop rotation, which are replicated in the farmers’ fields to build resilience against climate impact. The project prioritises empowering women to exercise their agency. Financial literacy training enhances farmers’ ability to manage resources and foster collective savings, amounting to US$7,800 annually in collective contributions through savings clubs.
The established democratic structures of Farmers’ Clubs and strong relationships with local authorities ensure the continuation of sustainable project activities.
Farmers’ Clubs El Empalme Coast works with 768 smallholder farmers and 3,840 family members to develop sustainable agricultural practices to adapt to the ever-changing climate conditions.
Sustainable Agriculture and Environment throughout Humana People to People
1M
People reached
450
Project units
15
Countries
188,617
Smallholder farmers
Smallholder farmers hold the key to sustainable solutions.