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Community strategies to promote sustainable wetland-based food security in rural areas of Zimbabwe

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Abstract

This article explores the various strategies rural households employ to sustain wetland use and conservation in the context of the restrictions imposed by the existing legal framework in Zimbabwe. Wetland cultivation is a common feature of the rural landscape and is mainly triggered by subsistence households endeavouring to stabilize their food security, especially in semi-arid and arid environments of the developing countries. Data was collected through a household questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, document review and direct observations. Quantitative data was analysed using ANOVA, Spearman Correlation Coefficient and Wilcoxon in Statistical Package for Social Scientists, whereas qualitative data was subjected to thematic analysis. The results revealed that most households adjacent to wetlands were food secure as wetland conditions enable the provision of a wide range of crops and natural products, contributing almost half of the food directly consumed and 48.2 % of average annual household total cash income. It was also observed that various soil and water conservation practices were adopted and local institutional arrangements were put in place to oversee their effective implementation. Thus, the general result has been increased wetland productivity, improved livelihoods and ecosystem protection. This has largely rendered the impact of legislation restricting wetland cultivation subtle in the local context. The study concluded that there is a need to promote participatory wetland management based on low-cost approaches sensitive to local conditions and the needs and practices of the local communities.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for research funds provided by Midlands State University, Zimbabwe. We would like to thank Lovemore Mhuri for assisting in data collection, Mr. Kudakwashe Muringaniza for generating study area map and Dr. Terence Musanga for assisting with English editing. We would like to thank anonymous reviewers for helping to improve the quality of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Geography, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Thomas Marambanyika & Heinz Beckedahl

  2. Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Midlands State University, P. Bag 9055, Gweru, Zimbabwe

    Thomas Marambanyika

  3. Discipline of Environmental Sciences, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa

    Njoya Silas Ngetar

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  1. Thomas Marambanyika
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Correspondence to Thomas Marambanyika.

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This work was funded by Research Board, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe. Informed consent of all participants in interviews and questionnaire survey was sought before each person’s participation. Ethical clearance for the research was granted by the Research Ethics Committee, University of KwaZulu Natal (Reference: HSS/0735/014D).

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Table 5 Summary of internal organic standards and sanctions
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Marambanyika, T., Beckedahl, H. & Ngetar, N.S. Community strategies to promote sustainable wetland-based food security in rural areas of Zimbabwe. GeoJournal 82, 987–1003 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-016-9724-0

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