From dirt to dividend: a story of agroecological transformation in the Dande Valley

Photo © Shutterstock

In the heart of the Dande Valley, a remote corner of Zimbabwe, beneath the Mopane woodlands and ancient baobabs, the Seremenga family has tilled the land for decades – against all odds.

For Lucky Seremenga and his wife, Tendepi Chingoma, life has always been defined by hardship. The climate is harsh, the weather unforgiving, the scars of war are still fresh in memory, and until 2021, the threat of landmines made farming a daily gamble, for both people and their livestock.

Their son, Shoddy, 23, is part of a new generation daring to dream differently. In 2022, the family joined a village business group called Vimbainashe – meaning ‘God-given hope’. In 2024, the Agricultural Partnerships Trust supported the family to create a business plan, including the purchase of a co-funded two-wheel tractor and planter.  This one machine has transformed farming for the community, ushering in a new era of mechanised minimum tillage.

Before, ploughing one hectare with oxen took two exhausting weeks. Now, with Shoddy behind the tractor wheel, it takes just two hours. Seeds and fertiliser are planted in a single pass, preserving soil health and moisture. Labour is cut dramatically, freeing up time for poultry and pig farming, and offering real hope of financial security.

Recently, the community marvelled at the lush sorghum crop, which has grown stronger and healthier. Farmers are now inspired, not just by the machine, but by a vision: a future where youth see farming as a career, and where innovation thrives even in forgotten places. “I am inspired by the enthusiasm of our local farmers, who are eager to embrace these tillage methods. I believe that together, we can significantly improve the food security situation in Dande,” says Lucky Seremenga.

A trailer was also part of the supplied equipment, and in between planting and harvesting seasons, the community uses the tractor to haul goods in the trailer. Going forward, the community can also use the tractor to pump water, thresh grain, and cut chaff.

This is more than a story about a machine. It’s about reclaiming dignity, igniting youth potential, and restoring livelihoods in one of Zimbabwe’s most neglected valleys.

Oak supports this work through our Regenerative Landscapes sub-Programme, which provides support to the Agricultural Partnerships Trust (APT). APT is a Zimbabwean registered trust that was formed in July 2010 out of concern for the development of rural communities in Zimbabwe, in particular of smallholder agriculture. It seeks to facilitate the development of rural communities through an agricultural-based market systems approach. You can find out more here: https://apt.co.zw/ . You can find out more about our Regenerative Landscapes sub-Programme, which falls under our Environment Programme here: https://oakfnd.org/programmes/environment/