Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has a predominantly tropical climate, with a rainy season from November to March and a dry season from April to October. Agriculture is a vital sector for the country’s economy, with over two thirds of the population relying on farming for their livelihoods. However, Zimbabwe faces challenges such as land degradation, climate variability, and water scarcity, which impact agricultural productivity and food security. Despite these challenges, the country holds significant potential for sustainable agriculture through improved land management practices and the adoption of innovative technologies.

IWMI in Zimbabwe

IWMI’s work in Zimbabwe focuses on enhancing agricultural resilience and sustainability through a series of strategic initiatives. Key projects involve the scoping of digital technologies in agriculture, identifying opportunities and challenges for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, including Zimbabwe. Another notable project involves modeling water flows in the Limpopo River Basin using drone technology to improve water resource management.

Launches in integrated landscape management seeks to restore degraded landscapes, promoting sustainability and livelihoods in rural communities. Additionally, researchers have explored biomass and nutrient flow dynamics to inform sustainable farming practices that address environmental challenges, helping farmers to de-risk their operations and enhance productivity. Through these projects, IWMI is supporting Zimbabwe’s transition to more sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems.

Contact

Henry Roman

Henry Roman

Country Representative – South Africa

Contact our office in Zimbabwe.

Contact the media team.

Contact our global HQ.

Projects in Zimbabwe

Latest Zimbabwe news

Digital innovation and citizen science to preserve freshwater systems

A new IWMI project aims to create a transboundary citizen science network across southern Africa, using digital tools to collect data that will influence policy decisions that directly affect their …

A network of citizen scientists to protect freshwater resources in southern Africa

A new IWMI initiative combines innovation with community participation to plug water data gaps …

IWMI and DE Africa help Limpopo water managers monitor dam levels with AI and satellite data

Across Africa, farmers rely on water from dams to irrigate their crops through periods of drought. But how much water is stored in the dam? Farmers and water managers often …

AI and satellite imagery better estimate water levels in dams  

IWMI and Digital Earth Africa are supporting water managers from Limpopo River Basin by improving access to better data and better water level estimates …

Latest Zimbabwe publications

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Journal Article

Recent drought prevalence in the Limpopo River Basin: insights from the digital twin platform

Springer | February, 2025
Ghosh, Surajit; Vigneswaran, Kayathri; Dickens, Chris; Retief, H.; Garcia Andarcia, Mariangel
Limited Access
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Manual

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for developing irrigation scheduling

International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Excellence in Agronomy | December 30th, 2024
Raes, D.; Shrestha, Nirman
Open Access
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Report

WaterCopilot: a water management AI virtual assistant for the Limpopo River Basin Digital Twin – technical guide

International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | December 30th, 2024
Vickneswaran, Keerththanan; Retief, H.; Padilha, R.; Dickens, Chris; Silva, Paulo; Garcia Andarcia, Mariangel
Open Access