How CLA Improved Crop Yields Despite the Flush Floods

Enhancing Recovery and Resilience in Communities 2 (ERRIC 2) is a one-year USAID-funded emergency program that seeks to support 6,000 farming households in Muzarabani and Mbire Districts so that they recover and become better prepared to face effects of drought, flood, and disease. The 2 districts are prone to recurrent droughts which affect crop yields and increase households food insecurity and water shortages.

ERRIC 2 project promoted adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture to improve agricultural outputs and at the same time conserve the natural habitat. Conservation Agriculture (CA), a farming system that promotes minimum soil disturbance, maintenance of a permanent soil cover, and diversification of plant species was the major practice promoted by the ERRIC 2 project. The practice increases available soil water, reduces heat and drought stress, and builds up soil health in the longer term. The CA practices also mitigate against the growing challenge of climate change, reverse land degradation and protect the environment. The 2022/2023 farming season experienced above average rainfall which led to loss of soil nutrients through leaching resulting in loss of crop vigor and yellowing of field crops. Through stakeholder consultative meetings, joint stakeholder monitoring, and engaging with the farmers, the team identified use of liquid fertilizer as a less costly, farmer-affordable and environmental friendly solution. The ERRIC 2 team jointly facilitated training of farming households with government Agriculture Technical and Extension Services officers on preparation and use of liquid manure to improve and restore soil fertility. To achieve the intented results the program adopted key elements of CLA approach such  as  pause and reflect, continuous learning and improvement and adaptive management. Supported farming Households who adopted use of liquid fertilizer experienced a significant increase in crop yields.