The effect of boar genotype on the reproductive performance of local sows was investigated. Large White (LW) and local Mukota boars were mated to 20 sows over 3 parities and the performance of the sows and litters were compared up to weaning. Data on the gestation length, number of piglets born alive (NBA), the number of piglets born dead (NBD), number weaned and the sex ratio were recorded. The weights of the piglets were recorded within 16 hours of birth and also at weaning. No creep feeding of the piglets was done and weaning was done at 35 days of age. There were no differences in the number of services per conception and the NBD. Litter size at birth, NBA and the number of piglets that were weaned were higher in sows mated to LW boars than to indigenous boars. These findings indicate that imported boars can be used under smallholder pig production systems as they complement traits of both the local and imported breeds.

The paper describes three participatory approaches geared towards rural development of innovations and agricultural extension and research presently developed and tested in pilot activities in Masvingo Province. All these approaches require new roles from the main development agents. With regard to agricultural extension workers, the role "teacher" must be replaced by the role facilitator for technical issues and social processes. This role change requires a major change in attitudes and a higher social competence than the technocratic extension workers have at present. The role change must be accompanied by the provision of tools and methodologies to the extension workers. Out of three methodologies (diagnostic survey, PRA and Training for Transformation) of which the potential contributions to a role change are discussed, Training for Transformation is suggested as a major tool for initiating the role change as it provides the required philosophic framework as well as practical methods and tools to encourage farmer participation. A review of experiences and constraints in the implementation of participatory approaches and the role changes revealed the transition period as a critical point. During that process intensive support has to be provided and an effective staff appraisal and monitoring system have to be in place to guide the extension workers. Steps to introduce participatory approaches into the extension system are proposed through a training programme for different levels of staff suggested on the basis of experiences gained so far. It is concluded that a consistent curriculum and a close follow-up is required to integrate participatory extension approaches successfully into the agricultural extension service.

The Conservatiuon Tillage for Sustainable Crop Production Systems has been testing and developing conservation tillage systems in the semi-arid areas of Masvingo Province since 1988. A dual approach of on-station research and adaptive on-farm research has been taken. Out of five tillage techniques, only mulch ripping can be considered ecologically sustainable. No-till tied ridging follows closely due to its perfect soil and water conservation effect. Two other minimum tillage systems, hand-hoeing and clean ripping are to reduce soil loss as compared to conventional mouldboard ploughing, but their level of soil loss is still above tolerable levels. Perfomance of the different tillage techniques has proved to be highly variable depending on soil, site and farmer specific conditions. To address the problem of high variability of conditions it was concluded that different techniques and systems should be promoted as options rather than blanket recommendations and that farmers should be encouraged to select, test and experiment with options in order to adapt technologies to their specific needs and conditions. The paper concludes that conservation tillage alone without further aspects of crop husbandry and soil fertility can only result in minor yield increases and does not necessarily increase the sustainability of the crop production system. Extension and further research should focus on integrated approach for land husbandry.

The paper outlines the occurence and distribution of vleis in Zimbabwe. Historical and Current utilization practices of these vleis are briefly described. Potentially safe and productive systems of cultivating vleis were investigated. These included three tillage practices (ridge and furrow, flat and paddy) and three cropping patterns (monocropping, intercropping and sequential cropping). Results of crop performance are discussed for the period 1983 to 1994. During the years when both maize and rice were harvested (1984/85, 1985/86, 1987/88, 1989/90, 1992/93 and 1993/94) maize grain yield averaged 6219 kg/ha whilst that of the rice was 2129 kkg/ha. Maize yielded grain every season even those with below average rainfall. In 1991/92 seasons when Zimbabwe and indeed the sub-Saharan region experienced the worst drought in history, vlei maize on ridges averaged grain yield of 1139 g/ha. Soil fertility, ground water levels and precipitation were monitored throughout the experimental period. Implications of vlei cultivation on the socio-economic aspects were assessed in view of possible transfer. Future research and extension objectives and strategies are highlighted. The need for coordinated and multi-displinary approach on the development of vlei utilization packkages is emphasized

The Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) Phase II for the Limpopo Basin Development Challenge (LBDC) project aims to develop methods, processes, and technologies to help resource- constrained smallholder farmers mitigate poverty and food insecurity through improved agricultural water management (AWM) strategies. The purposes of this paper are to: 1) Identify areas in the Limpopo River Basin with high levels of rural poverty and food insecurity; 2) Identify areas where AWM interventions are taking place; and 3) Check whether current activities of the CPWF in the Limpopo Basin are located in areas of need as per poverty profiles and geographical location of smallholder farms. The generated poverty and food insecurity maps were based on food security surveys and estimates of consumption or income-based welfare outcomes at the district level from 2003–2013. Based on existing district level poverty and other relevant data in the basin, the study shows that the LBDC study sites are located in poor areas in the Limpopo Basin, and poverty reduction efforts should prioritize vulnerable female and child-headed households as they are the most negatively impacted by poverty and food insecurity in the four countries. Hence, with the overall aim of CPWF under LBDC to reduce poverty and food insecurity, and improve livelihoods, poverty indices should rank highly as one of the factors for project site selection. Poverty and food insecurity mapping plays an important role in identifying areas lagging behind in social and economic development, and also in facilitating targeted developmental programs such as education, health, access to credit, agricultural production support and food aid. However, it should be recognized that using district-level information often masks the existence of poverty pockets in otherwise relatively well-off districts, which could lead to poorly targeted AWM schemes. In addition, the poverty index is limited by the subjective nature of community-level and household-level factors that influence it, and this is reflected by the responses from research participants. Whereas a common poverty line for a particular time frame enables poverty comparisons across countries, local level poverty assessments, however, usually require more in-depth and diverse information that can be used in designing cost-effective and efficient anti-poverty programs and livelihoods enhancement opportunities. In order to achieve the research project’s goals of poverty and food insecurity reduction, and livelihood enhancement of smallholder farmers in the Limpopo Basin, it is of greater significance to understand trends in poverty rates rather than 1-year values at CPWF-LBDC study sites. Poverty maps that highlight areas marginalized by resource constraints help in setting priorities for developing technologies and in deploying resources where they are most needed and likely to alleviate poverty and food insecurity. This work provides background information on the Limpopo Basin.