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.

This paper examines those factors influencing the uptake and impact of renewable natural resource's research giving particular attention to the identification of promotion pathways, dissemination and adoption of soil and water conservation technologies suitable for small farmers in semi-arid parts of Zimbabwe. Problems faced by communal area farmers in these areas cannot be solved by simply adaption and introduction of already existing technologies. Apart from technologies for maize and cotton successfully developed for high potential areas, technology does not exist or inappropriate as it is perceived as too risky by farmers. To make research more effective more attention needs to be given to project identification, design and appraisal with active involmentand consultation with intended beneficiries and stakeholders usingmore participatory methods that consider socio-economic acceptability and identify dissemination pathways

Promotion of 'improved' conservation practiced in sub-Saharan Africa have rarely taken account of the practical, social and economic constraints faced by resource poor farmers. New technologies need to improve the supply and utilization of limited resources in these environments to satisfy the specific demands of the growing crop. At the same time they must not require costly inputs, unavailable skills or increase the demand on labour. Farmer uptake is therefore dependent upon the innovative use of existing implements, and thereby making the best use of what is generally available. This paper describes some of the lessons learned over the years and results from a five-year collaborative project between the Department of Research and Specialist Services (DRSS), Zimbabwe and Silsoe Research Institute, UK. The project aims to develop tillage systems that conserve water without increasing energy and labour requirements. Results of farmer managed trials sofar indicated that effective, low cost, conservation tillage practices can be achieved using existing implements to enhance water conservation, which will allow: i) earlier and more even crop establishment; ii) reduce effect of mid-season droughts and iii) extend the growing season where there is an early cut off to the rains. In order to identify whichh systems are appropriate and acceptable to dryland conditions, smallholder farmers have been fully involved in the selection and development of those technologies under investigation

The pre-independence transfer systems were a result of well-calculated strategy to civilise and Christianise the native farmer so that he would not compete with his white counterpart. Politics play a predominant role in reinforcing a culture of top-down extension in which the farmer did not play any meaningful role in technology-generation. the resultant system was so entrenched in the concept of technocentricism that African Agriculture became a shadow of European agriiculture and its commoditisation process. What we see today and probably for a long time in the future, is a perpetuation of seventy years of a well-orchestrated agenda in which knowledge is believed to flow from one source to the user in a hierarchical order. The fifteen years of independence have not made much change yet in influencing the systems.

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