Namibia\’s Rural Women\’s Assembly was represented by five of its members at Zimbabwe\’s National Assembly meeting. A day after the National Annual Meeting was held in Bubi, Matabeleland North Province, 45 members of the Southern Africa Rural Women\’s Assembly travelled to Kwekwe, in the Midlands’s province to attend the Feminist Agroecology School.

DAY 1

The five day Feminist Agroecology school aimed at facilitating a knowledge exchange platform where rural women train one another on various eco-friendly farming techniques. The training had both theory and practical components facilitated by various farming and agroecology experts.

The first session of the Feminist Agroecology School started with a presentation on climate change, its causes, strategies for mitigation as well as adaptation and the politics behind climate change. Lawrence Mashungu from the Department of Climate Change in the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment explained the impact of Greenhouses Gases (GHG) on the climate. Emphasis was placed on mitigation strategies for climate change. Reduction of emission or enhancing carbon sinks is one of the strategies. The session gave background to climate change and explained the importance of embracing Feminist Agroecology.

DAY 2

Day 2 was marked by a field visit to Gambiza garden and value addition centre in Chiundura, Midlands Province. The 45 participants toured the horticulture activities taking place at the two gardens and got firsthand experience on the value addition processes carried out by the members of the centre. The farmers were taken through the sunflower to oil pressing, groundnuts to peanut butter making, maize to mealie meal grinding as well as sunflower cake to stock feed making processes.

Women and Land in Zimbabwe (WLZ) projects officer, Norbert Ncube, explained the process of making and use of solar driers in vegetable preservation. He also taught the farmers on the production of organic fertilizer using readily available inputs like cow dung, molasses, and water.

DAY 3

Day 3 took place at Shingai Matimba garden in Shurugwi where the 45 participants toured the garden and learnt about water harvesting and farming vs mining conflict dominating the mineral rich area.

Day 4 started with the members of the Namibia Rural Women\’s Assembly training participants on creamy milk, cooking fat and cheese making from fresh milk.

The morning session of the Feminist Agroecology School ended with Multi-Media Specialist, Lawrence Thodhlana, presenting on the role of the media in farming.

DAY 5

Day 5 with WLZ Project Supervisor, Ndhlovu Prince presenting on Push Pull technology and agroforestry in farming. The Push Pull technology is a regenerative and sustainable agroecological concept of controlling the Fall Army worm pest in maize production, controlling Striga weed and improving soil fertility. Bridget Masikati, ZFU Gender and Youth Development officer facilitated the recapping of lessons learnt, subsequent session and the development of country work plans.