“Farming Is Now a Gamble”: Matobo Community Shares Harsh Realities of Climate Change

Loraine Phiri

Climate change is reshaping life in Matobo, where once-predictable rainfall patterns have collapsed, crop yields have sharply declined, and women are carrying an increasing share of the physical labour of farming.

These concerns emerged on Friday during a community dialogue hosted by Matpulse in partnership with Amagugu International Heritage Centre, where villagers discussed lived experiences of climate change and co-created adaptation solutions ahead of the new farming season.

Villagers said climate change is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality undermining food security. Erratic rainfall, recurrent dry spells and extreme heat have disrupted traditional farming systems that for generations depended on reliable seasonal cycles.

For generations, Matobo farmers relied on predictable seasonal markers such as imbolisamahlanga, the early transitional spring rains usually received in July or August, to guide planting decisions. That certainty is now gone.

“We are seeing less rain and the temperatures are too hot. Our yields are no longer consistent; sometimes we harvest something, sometimes we get nothing at all,” said Sinikiwe Dube. “It’s no longer like the past when a harvest was almost guaranteed. The rains are now erratic and unpredictable.

“In the past, we knew that imbolisamahlanga (early transitional spring rains) would fall around July or August. This rain would soften the dry maize stalks in the fields, allowing them to rot and enrich the soil before we planted. Now, the moment it rains, we rush to plant. Sometimes it is too early and the crop fails, and sometimes we are lucky and get a small harvest. But the certainty is gone,” said Dube.

Another villager, Sipho Dube , echoed these concerns, noting that even diversifying crops no longer guarantee a harvest. He highlighted that currently the rains were insufficient, poorly distributed, or end too early. This means crops especially maize and even some small grains fail to reach full maturity, leading to poor yields or total crop failure.

“Traditionally, our people always grew a diverse range of crops, and we continue to do so. But the biggest problem now is the extreme climate. Even drought resistant sorghum sometimes gets burnt by the sun or fails to mature because there is not enough sustained rainfall.

“Farming today is a gamble. The climate is so difficult for us farmers to determine. Last year, some people planted early, but the rains delayed, and they got nothing. I delayed planting and managed to get a small harvest. It is all down to chance,” said Dube.

The shifting climate has also intensified the workload for women. Villagers observed that men are increasingly absent from the fields, leaving women to shoulder most of the labour.

Steward Ncube highlighted this shift: “I have noticed that we no longer see men in the fields most of the work is now being done by women. Long back there was division of labour but now women handle most of the farming.”

Nomvulelo Nyoni described the shift from gentle, welcoming rains to frightening, destructive downpours: “In the past rains were gentle and you could walk in the rain and feel happy. Now the rains are violent and scary.”

To cope with poor yields, most participants now rely on conservation agriculture techniques, locally known as intwasa/ gatshompo/pfumvudza. While effective, the manual labour required is daunting.

“We now depend on intwasa (conservation farming pits). However, digging the holes when the ground is dry is extremely hard work. As women, this labour is very painful and is harming our bodies,” said Nyoni.

Despite these challenges, community members and agricultural experts are working together on practical adaptation strategies. Agricultural officer Mandla Moyo affirmed the need for change, urging the community to “evolve and adapt.”

Moyo stressed the critical need to diversify and move away from sole reliance on maize. “We should increase our production of small grains such as sorghum, millet and cow peas,” he advised, noting that small grains are far more drought-resistant than maize and can survive if rains come late.

To ease the labour burden of gatshompo, Moyo advised farmers to begin preparing their fields early and to consider using cattle-drawn rippers as a mechanized alternative to manual digging.

“Intwasa is not limited to manually digging of planting holes. Farmers can also use cattle-drawn rippers, which make the process much easier. A ripper breaks the hard soil surface, improves moisture infiltration, and creates planting lines in a single pass,” he explained. “For many farmers, especially women, this reduces the heavy labour of digging hole by hole. Let us also dig holes early to avoid over burdening ourselves so that we can plant on time when the rains come,” he said.

Moyo also encouraged farmers to rely on locally available resources. “Before turning to fertiliser, make use of what you already have. Ashes can help reduce soil acidity, while manure adds vital nutrients. The quality of manure depends on the livestock’s diet, with goat manure from animals feeding on leguminous plants being particularly rich,” he said.

Farmers like Manyathi shared additional techniques such as digging furrows to direct and retain water in crop rows. Other villagers advised preparing compost properly before applying it to fields. They warned that raw compost can attract termites if not fully decomposed and recommended allowing livestock to trample and moisten compost to speed up breakdown and improve its effectiveness.