Our Activities
Food for Life Festival
The Zimbabwe Land and Agrarian Network (ZiLAN) attended the Food for Life Festival, hosted by Women in Farming Entrepreneurship (W.I.F.E) on 23 May 2025 at Women University in Africa, Harare. The festival was a vibrant celebration of Africa’s food systems, entrepreneurship, and sustainable agriculture. The event brought together women farmers and entrepreneurs, who showcased their fresh and processed produce, artisanal goods, and innovative products. In attendance were various organizations, financial institutions, and stakeholders, including PELUM, Total Farm Solution (TFS), Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU), NMB Bank, Champion Seeds, as well as women farmers from Chikomba District, particularly members of the Chinyika Garden, with whom ZiLAN is actively working. The festival featured discussions and presentations by notable speakers, including the Vice Chancellor of Africa University, the ZFU District Coordinator, and other keynote speakers. Topics covered included Gender dynamics in markets, financial and social inclusion for women empowerment in agricultural value chains and small grains and agroecology for climate adaptation and mitigation. ZiLAN also had a valuable opportunity to network with organizations within the agricultural sector, fostering connections to further its mission of supporting sustainable agriculture and community development.
Chinyika Nutritional Garden Support
ZiLAN, with support from We-Effect and Mamacash, partnered with a group of 10 farmers (8 women and 2 men) in Chikomba district, Chinyika, who manage a thriving nutritional garden. The Chinyika group, dedicated to purely organic farming, was identified through ZiLAN’s member organization, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU). This group stands as a remarkable success story, showcasing the determination and unity of farmers addressing food security and sovereignty challenges despite facing significant resource constraints. To support their efforts, ZiLAN, with funding from We-Effect and Mama Cash, implemented key interventions during the first quarter of 2025. These included the installation of a 5,000-liter water tank on a steel stand, a drip irrigation system covering half a hectare, and a security fence enclosing the entire one-hectare garden. The drip irrigation system has significantly boosted production by providing a consistent and readily available water supply, while the fence has safeguarded crops from threats such as stray livestock and theft.