1.1 Project Summary
Kulima Mbobumi Training Centre, a Community Based Welfare Organization based in Binga district in partnership with Matopos Research Institute proposes to implement an agro-ecology project entitled ?Integrating crop-livestock production and agro-ecology to enhance resilience to climate change in ward 9, Binga District?. The overall objective is to promote a diversified farming system that enhances and maintains agrobiodiversity as a strategy to combat climate change effects. The project will be implemented in Sianzyundu (Ward 9) in Binga District, Matabeleland North Province of Zimbabwe. Binga falls in Natural Region V. The area is characterised by very low and erratic rainfall (range of 450 mm ? 600 mm per annum), poor Kalahari acidic sandy soils and high temperatures. These conditions had been worsened by effects of climate change which have led to seasonal variations in rainfall patterns resulting in chronic food shortages and high livestock mortality. Sianzyundu has 7 villages with 1 471 households translating to a total population of 5 461 of which 55.5% are females (Census 2012). The ward lies in the marginal northern part of the District and falls within the Kariba Valley Kariangwe-Jambezi Communal (KVKJC) Livelihood Zone.. The community depends on subsistence small grain crop production (sorghum, millet), small portions of pulses and livestock rearing. These are complemented by fishing, seasonal sales of wild fruits and vegetables from small nutrition gardens. Due to harsh weather conditions, inappropriate farming techniques and infertile soils, the communities always produce very low yields that cannot sustain them for more than 3 months in a year. Livestock production is threatened by poor grazing and diseases leading to high mortality and low conception rates. Population increase and the high dependence on agricultural based livelihoods is increasing the demand for agricultural land. This has resulted in the clearing of forests, grazing areas and sloppy lands in the ward thereby leading to rapid biodiversity loss.

The major problem in the ward is household food insecurity which is caused by low rains, poor soils, deforestation, accelerated land degradation and poor livestock production. The proposed project will implement Agro-ecological systems and practices that will improve soil status, vegetative cover, biomass production, soil conservation. The anticipated result is increased crop and livestock production. The communities will practice the following Conservation Agriculture (CA) practices: crop rotation, cover cropping, intercropping, green manuring and enhanced livestock production through fodder crop production and fodder value addition (hay making and promotion of fodder banks). Livestock production shall form an integral part to economic development and sustainable livelihoods. There shall be deliberate targeting for women in livestock production and these shall receive chickens and guinea fowls and shall in turn earn income from sell of poultry and poultry products. Moringa trees will be grown on abandoned lands so as to improve the soil cover. Produce from Moringa will be used for household consumption and Moringa has a high nutritional value. A baseline study will be undertaken in order to produce a distribution map of vital resources in the community. Field days, workshops, Farmer Field Schools (FFS), demonstration plots and participatory mapping will form the centre of the dissemination and capacity building strategy and exit plan.
1.2 Organizational Background and Capacity to implement the project
KMTC was formed in 1984 by Binga Rural District Council (BRDC). It operated under BRDC administration for 10 years till 1994 after which it registered as a welfare charitable organization under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. KMTC focuses on improving the livelihoods of people of Binga through the provision of agricultural support in the form of capacity building and provision of agricultural inputs and implements. KMTC also embarked on small livestock promotion through the Pass on a Gift programme. Currently KMTC is focusing on interventions that are climate smart. This includes the promotion of mechanized conservation agriculture, green manure and cover cropping as well as community asserts creation. The organization has positioned itself to respond to developmental work in the district and responds effectively and efficiently to people?s needs throughout the district. In the proposed project KMTC will partner with Matopos Research institute (MRI), AGRITEX and the Department of Livestock Production Development and Veterinary Services.

Organization structure
KMTC is managed by Policy Making Board (PMB) which superintends on all governance and policy issues for the organization. The Board sits to review performance of the organization on a quarterly basis and is also responsible for performance appraisals for the senior management. The organization has a secretariat headed by the Manager which operationalises the administration framework of the organization. The secretariat is composed of 5 technical staff members who make up a Senior Management Team. This team is responsible for programming issues. It includes the Manager, Finance and Administration Officer, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Field Officer and a Small Livestock Development Officer. The ancillary staff is made up of 7 members who provide support services. KTMC employs 13 staff members.

Organization Experience
KMTC has implemented agriculture activities since 1984. It implemented Food Security (CA), social protection (Food for asserts & small livestock distribution), Water and Sanitation (WASH) projects since 1984 to date. KMTC worked with Save the Children- Zimbabwe as an implementing partner of a 3 year Protracted Relief Program (PRP) II from 2009 to 2011. The project involved the distribution of summer inputs and small livestock, CA, nutrition gardens and WASH in 14 wards of the District. KMTC is at present working with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in the implementation mechanized CA, Dam construction and Environmental conservation works in 8 wards with a target of 3000 households. Cross cutting issues such as gender, HIV and AIDS and child protection are mainstreamed throughout all KMTC program areas.

Technical Partners
KMTC will partner with Matopos Research Institute (MRI) in the proposed project from project development to implementation of the project. MRI has vast experience in research and implementing agriculture and environmental projects. MRI?s most critical role is backing KMTC on knowledge development and information dissemination. This is critical for adapting and upscaling technologies to similar regions. MRI is a government institute which is in a position to increase the effectiveness of influencing national policies on agro-ecology and climate change in semi-arid areas. Apart from MRI, KMTC will also partner with the stakeholders listed in the table below.

Partners Role in the project
District Administrator?s Office Coordinating the Drought Relief Committee and Food Security
Binga Rural District Council (BRDC) Overall monitoring on the adherence of the project to the District Strategic Plan
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Sensitization, awareness and training of community on climate change
Agritex Support in training, mentoring and monitoring on agronomic practices through ward based Agritex Extension Officers
Livestock Production and Development (LPD) Training, mentoring and coaching on livestock production and improving breeds
Department of Veterinary Services (Vet) Training on livestock health and diseases surveillance through ward based Livestock Extension Officers and Livestock Development Committees
Women Affairs and Community Development Gender mainstreaming and equality issues to improve women participation in the community development
The involvement of AGRITEX, LPD, and Veterinary departments at both District and Ward level and the permanent availability of KMTC will ensure the sustainability of project beyond its lifespan. The engagement of the community from the onset of the project through the Farmer Field School Approach, participatory monitoring and evaluation will also allow continuity of the project

Support services
During the implementation of the project, KMTC proposes to take advantage and use its technical staff e, the 3 vehicles ( a Toyota land cruiser and Toyota Hilux- double Cab and Toyota hilux ?D4D), two motor cycles and 3 laptops and one desktop computer to make sure that the activities are smoothly executed.
1.3 Project Objectives and Expected Results
Problem statement or challenge the project intends to address
Binga District occurs in semi-arid agro-ecological region V. The area is characterised by low and erratic rainfall and infertile soils. Farmers in the area heavily rely on rain-fed agriculture and livestock. Drought poses serious limitations on food security and livelihoods. Frequent occurrence of drought and prolonged mid-season dry spells exacerbate poverty levels in the district because livelihood activities predominantly rely rain-fed agriculture. Community?s livelihoods are consequently prone and vulnerable to climatic variability. Drought limits water availability for household, livestock and small irrigation (gardens) uses. The District has been recently experiencing hotter days and an increasingly variable rainfall, with little change in annual rainfall but with more extreme events (i.e., longer, more frequent dry spells and fewer, more intense rain days). These experiences had negatively impacted on the livelihoods for the communities in Ward 9. Ward 9 has a dam constructed in the late 80s by government but due to effects of persistent cyclones of 2000s (Eline and Japhet), upstream erosion was caused resulting in siltation there by reducing dam water holding capacity which is not enough to sustain the current community water demands. Furthermore, cyclone Dineo caused incessant rains which threatened the dam wall and the state of the dam needs urgent attention. Ward 9 community in response had mobilized monetary resources (not enough) toward the rehabilitation of the dam. Ward 9 community is targeting to raise USD$900 towards rehabilitation of dam. So far USD285.00 had been raised towards the targeted amount which had been proportionally levied to 4 benefiting villages. Community is also set to avail labour provision during rehabilitation works where gabions will be constructed. Other works are raising the embankment and stone pitching on wall sides to avoid erosion. In response this project shall compliment this community effort by supporting with construction materials toward dam rehabilitation. USD6, 958.00 from this project is allocated towards dam rehabilitation. (See attached Annex with illustration of ward 9 dam in pictures)

The Conservation Agriculture assessment which was carried out in 2016 using wealth ranking techniques identified that annually 27.3% of the households in Binga district experience food shortages for 6 months starting in October to March of the subsequent year. Food production is inadequate to sustain households through the season. The Zimbabwe food security outlook report for July 2013 to March 2014 showed that situation in Binga deteriorated with a high proportion of people being in need of food assistance between October and March.

The communities in Ward 9 are limited by lack of knowledge, resources, technical capacity and access to information on sustainable farming practices. These are required to improve crop and livestock productivity. These factors are also contributing to poor land use practices which cause massive land degradation and siltation of water bodies in the area there by impacting of the people?s livelihoods.

The effect of climate change on livestock production severely compromises the rural economy and causes serious cash crisis in the targeted community. Unpredictability of rainfall and poor land use practices has affected the availability of herbage feed in grazing lands. This had resulted in animals overgrazing the lands thereby contributing to accelerated soil losses and also poor livestock condition which are more prone to diseases and deaths. Outbreaks of Newcastle and coccidiosis on poultry are reported by the Veterinary Services and are now a common occurrence. The communities will remain vulnerable to these diseases due to limited resources for coordination, vaccination and awareness campaigns by stakeholders. Humans are also at risk since many do consume meat from animals which die of unknown causes. The project shall purchase start up veterinary medicines which shall be sold by paravets with a view of establishing a revolving fund by paravets. Money realised from the revolving fund will be used to replenish medicines.

Overall project goal/primary objective
To promote a diversified farming system that enhances and maintains agro biodiversity as a strategy to combat climate change effects.
Specific objectives
1. To determine community livelihood systems and critical ecosystems in Ward 9 in Binga in relationship to climate change challenges
2. To promote soil and water conservation practices in order to ensure sustainable crop/livestock productivity in Ward 9 in Binga
3. To enhance crop- livestock integration in order to improve food productivity and boost income generation in Ward 9 in Binga
4. To reclaim and protect grazing areas in Ward 9 in Binga in order to preserve biodiversity and enhance sustainable ecosystem services provision

1.4 Rationale/justification of the project
According to the UN Sustainable Developmental Goals (UNSDG) 1-5 promoting crop-livestock productivity has the potential to improve food security, alleviate poverty thereby improving the wellbeing of communities. Rural education and gender empowerment can contribute towards positive downstream effects on land, climate and water management. This project will implement CA in Ward 9 in Binga. This will result in sustainable and profitable agriculture which will consequently improve the livelihoods of farmers in the ward. The key CA assumption is that satisfactory yields should be achieved by combining agricultural activities with sustainable environmental practices through the enhancement of natural biological processes above and below the ground. CA represents an innovative platform that promotes the sustainable use of natural resources as well approaches to management of farming systems. Unsustainable practices such as mechanical soil tillage are reduced to an absolute minimum. The use of external inputs such as agrochemicals and nutrients of organic origin are applied at levels that do not disrupt the biological processes. This farming system through legume intercropping and cover cropping enhances the fertility levels of arable land. It reduces excessive land degradation and improves vegetative cover. The vegetative cover in fields will play a pivotal role in conserving soil moisture which is key in crop production and addressing the low and erratic rains in the District. CA practices will also reduce the rate of runoff and erosion thereby minimizing siltation of water bodies in the ward.
Rehabilitation of degraded land by planting Moringa plots will help communities restore some of the abandoned lands; improve soil nutrients, adding value to the community?s food and income generation. Moringa leaves can be marketed to an agent of Tanganda Tea based in Binga. Farmers will be taught the production and processing of Moringa. Dried leaves currently cost US$3.00/kg. At present the demand exceeds the supply. The farmers are failing to supply the required 1000kg/month. The agro-ecological practices implemented by the farmers will restore the lost vegetation cover and introduce diversity in agricultural fields and surrounding landscapes. This will give farmers a wide variety of options to satisfy their livelihood requirements.

The integration of livestock with crop production will result in a complementary system that can have positive impacts in terms of biodiversity, soil fertility and recycling of nutrients. The high biomass produced is quality livestock feed will improve feed availability during the dry season. This will reduce livestock deaths, reproduction losses, poor body condition, low growth rates and low market value. Legumes have high crude protein content that can improve feed quality and reduce enteric methane production from ruminant, contributing to climate change mitigation measures. This will contribute towards alleviating climate change.

The proposed project leverages other projects supporting the enhancement of livestock production e.g. the Goat Value Chain project implemented by SNV in the target ward and the Heifer International Buck Exchange Program that introduced bigger framed animals. Most goats died due to lack of feed and water during the 2015/16 drought. Some goats were sold under desperate circumstances, consequently reducing the number of the new breed that was introduced.

Capacity development like training of trainers, formation of innovation platforms and knowledge development linking traditional knowledge with scientific proven management systems will be at the core of the project implementation strategy to promote sustainability and growth. Small stock livestock market linkages will be established in order to ensure sustainable income generation especially for youths and woman who depend on them. A development partner, CARITAS funded by SNV are supporting market linkages in the district. This intervention is being implemented in partnership with Binga Rural District Council and goat sale calendars are generated and shared to community through electronic and mobile systems. Goat sellers are linked to butcheries in urban centers and currently goats are being sold through a local abattoir in Manjolo. This project shall improve production of local goats ultimately increasing supply of goat meat to this existing market.

Table 1: Objectives, activities, outputs and outcomes
OBJECTIVE 1: To determine community livelihood systems and ecosystem in Ward 9 in Binga in relationship to climate change challenges.
Outputs Activities Outcome
Output 1: Baseline Assessment
Indicators for planned actions:
? Baseline report
? One agro-ecology community based monitoring system developed.
Baseline:
? No baseline report
? No community based monitoring system in place
Target:
? 1 baseline survey report produced
? Community based monitoring system in place
? Focused group discussion
? Key stakeholders analysis and interviews
? Baseline household survey
? Report writing
? Establishment of community monitoring systems ? Strategic and target specific project intervention plan
? Community profiling index
? Livelihood Database
OBJECTIVE 2: To promote soil and water conservation practices in order to ensure sustainable crop/livestock productivity in Ward 9 in Binga.
Outputs Activities Outcome
Output 2: Conservation practices implemented by community members

Indicators
? Ha of land under improved land use
? Numbers of days of food shortages reduced
? Number of trainings conducted
? Number of members participating
? Number of demo plots established
? Number of conservation structures constructed
? Ha of land protected
? Number of fields under cereal- legume intercrops
? Ha of abandoned land under Moringa plantation
? Number of field days
? Number of people participating
Baseline:
? No hectares of land under improved land use
? 6 months of food shortages being experienced now
? No trainings conducted
? No demo plots established
? No conservation structures constructed
? Zero Ha of land protected
? No fields under cereal- legume intercrops
? Zero Ha of abandoned land under Moringa plantation
No field days conducted
Target:
? 210 households participating
? 52.5Haof land under improved land use
? 4 months of food shortages reduced
? 7 trainings conducted
? 210 members participating
? 7 demo plots established
? 10 conservation structures constructed
? 100Ha of land protected
? 210 fields under cereal- legume intercrops
? 1.4 Ha of abandoned land under Moringa plantation
? 2 field days conducted
? 210 participants ? Inception meetings
? Participant identification and registration of farmers.
? Training of farmers on CA
? Participatory selection and establishment of demonstration plots
? Establishment of Moringa plots
? Conducting field days
? Construction of storm drain to protect agricultural land
? Peer to peer exchange visits
? Setting up of seed banks for the small grains
? Rehabilitation of Sianzyundu dam through desilting, raising the eroded embankment which now below the spilling level and protecting the dam wall from further erosion ? Efficient soil management Community knowledge hub
? Minimized soil losses
? Improved biodiversity
OBJECTIVE 3: To enhance crop-livestock integration in order to improve food productivity and boost income generation in Ward 9 in Binga.
Output Activities Outcome
Output 3: Income generation from agricultural produce
Indicators of planned activities
? Kg of Moringa sold
? Number of livestock sold
? Increase in purchasing power by community member
? Number of commodity groups
? Number of trained paravets
? Number of youths and woman involved
Baseline:
? Zero Kgs of Moringa sold
? No livestock sold
? No commodity groups operating
? No trained paravets
? No youths currently participating
? No women currently involved
Target:
? 1000 kgs of Moringa sold per year
? 600 goats sold and 1000 poultry sold per year
? USD 17000 raised by community members on average
? 3 operational commodity groups
? 14 trained paravets
? 53 youths involved
? 126 women involved ? Purchase of improved he goat breed
? Purchase of veterinary kits
? Establishment of moringa nursery and woodlot
? Post harvest training on Moringa products
? Livestock production training sessions
? Formation of commodity groups
? Training of paravets
? Training on feed production and homemade formulations
? Establishment of standard livestock handling facilities
? Linking farmers to Zimbabwe farmers Union
? Exchange visits
? Purchase of poultry
Distribution chickens and guinea fowls to women ? Reduced livestock mortalities
? Increased income
? Youth and woman empowerment
OBJECTIVE 4: To reclaim and protect grazing areas in Ward 9 in Binga in order to preserve biodiversity and enhance sustainable ecosystem services provision

Output 4: Grazing land management practices
Indicators for planned actions:
? Range land by-law Policy brief
? Biodiversity assessment report
? Number of by-laws influenced
? Technical report
Baseline:
? No policy brief in place
? No biodiversity assessment was done
? No policies influenced
? No technical report produced
Target:
? 1 Range land by-law Policy brief
? 1 Biodiversity assessment report
? 3 by-laws influenced
1 Technical report produced ? Participatory grazing areas management
? Biodiversity assessment
? Participatory formulation of by-laws and monitoring plan
? Planting of fodder forage trees ? Improved natural fodder for livestock
? Improved grazing capacity