Using Community Nutrition Gardening as a Rural Re-Greening and Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in Lupane, Zimbabwe

Coping with chronically variable yields of food crops is critical for the survival of farm households in marginal environments where agro-climatic conditions are challenging. As such, to alleviate the effects of climate change, rural households implement various strategies, including community nutrition gardening, to tackle livelihood-related challenges. This study examines the role of community nutrition gardening as a strategy for adapting to climate change in a village within the Lupane District of Matabeleland North province in Zimbabwe. Employing a qualitative case study approach grounded in Climate Change Adaptation theory, data was gathered through 29 in-depth interviews, one focus group discussion and insights from five key informants. The findings indicate that community nutrition gardens significantly contribute to strengthening household resilience in the face of climate change and its variability. Anecdotal evidence indicates that community nutrition gardens positively impacted household well-being, purchasing power, asset accumulation and social capital. The gardens further enhanced food security, nutrition and dietary diversity for families. However, during discussions, participants identified several barriers to the expansion of the community nutrition garden initiative, including limited institutional support, challenges related to water rights and the absence of collateral. To effectively integrate community nutrition gardening into climate change adaptation efforts, there is a pressing need for a targeted rural development policy. Specifically, actions should focus on improving access to water, credit and markets.