Climate farming nudges boost Zambia’s yields

Nyimba: In eastern Zambia’s Nyimba region, farmers stand between two maize plots, one thriving, the other struggling, under a drought that leaves some families with only enough food for one meal a day. The thriving plot, tilled using ripping—deep tillage with pointed prongs to break up soil and retain maximum moisture, yields far more than its neighbour, tilled with the regular practice of more extensive, shallower tilling. Villagers are convinced by the evidence in front of their own eyes, per the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

This is a “nudge,” say behavioural science experts, part of Zambia’s Facility for Action for Climate Empowerment to Achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (FACE-NDC) initiative. The project, focusing on changing communities’ behaviours and mindsets on climate action, women’s empowerment, and sustainable practices, shows farmers in Nyimba a path to resilience. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), FACE-NDC is led by a consortium including FAO, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Copperbelt University, and the University of Zambia.

“We did not have what used to be considered normal rainfall this farming season, and farmers were able to see which farming practices brought out the best yield,” says Marvin Kapenda, a Behavioural Science Specialist with FAO in Zambia. He adds, “We’re not telling them to choose this one; they were just observing, and they would choose the demo plot after seeing how it was going to give the desired crop yield.”

The demo plots, an approach used in farmer field schools to influence behaviour change for climate-resilient agricultural practices, are promoted by FACE-NDC alongside FAO’s Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems in Zambia (SIFAZ) project. In Nyimba, these plots show ripping’s edge over ploughing, a lesson farmers take to heart. Agracia Lungu, Chairwoman of the Sungani Luwela Women’s Farmers’ Group, shares, “Many of us lacked knowledge on effective farming techniques, often opting for ploughing instead of ripping, but we are now committed to adopting better farming practices, such as ripping.”Changing deeply engrained practices requires community trust, especially from influential chiefs. Chief Ndake, a key figure in Nyimba, says, “The key to true change lies not only in the resources we provide but in the minds we transform.” He notes that sustainability had remained a challenge because the community’s mindset had not shifted. Through community discussions led by traditional leaders like him, FACE-NDC helps villagers see the value of community forestry and preserving indigenous trees, vital for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

The project also tackles deforestation, a pressing issue as Zambia loses an estimated 0.8 per cent of its forests annually due to bushfires, charcoal manufacturing, agricultural development, and lack of environmental awareness. This rapid deforestation contributes to climate change, soil erosion, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. To counter this, FACE-NDC promotes energy-efficient stoves over the traditional method of using stones and firewood for cooking. These improved stoves cook food more rapidly, requiring only a few tree twigs or branches that have fallen from trees, unlike standard stoves, which need big logs from felled trees. This nudge encourages communities to conserve forests.

Another focus is replacing superstitions with modern meteorological information. In Nyimba, some believed certain species of trees could take away the rains, causing drought. FACE-NDC provides weather data to shift mindsets, helping farmers plan better. Kapenda explains the project’s approach: “People operate on other people’s ideas, so we emphasise the concept of peer to peer. They’re practising what they’re practising because their neighbour is. We know that if we teach ten farmers and they agree with us, 100 more will agree with those 10 because they are community members, they are family members, they are friends.”

Community learning is central. Information dissemination, done in consultation with community chiefs, aligns with the community’s behaviour patterns, practices, values, and traditions. Kapenda warns, “At the end of the day, we end up teaching ourselves because we do not understand the behavioural aspect of the people and how they perceive that information.” By engaging chiefs and peers, FACE-NDC ensures its nudges resonate, fostering a sense of ownership.

Zambia, the pilot country for FACE-NDC, faces high stakes. The drought in Nyimba, limiting families to one meal a day, underscores the need for climate-resilient practices. Farmers adopting ripping report better yields, easing hunger. Women like Lungu, empowered through farmer field schools, lead the shift to sustainable methods. Chiefs like Ndake rally communities to protect forests, seeing trees as allies against climate change. These changes, driven by practical nudges and community focus, build resilience against land degradation, drought, and extreme heat.

The initiative’s success draws from its blend of science and tradition. Demo plots show tangible results, stoves save trees, and weather data dispel myths. By working through trusted leaders and peer networks, FACE-NDC transforms mindsets without imposing solutions. Farmers in Nyimba, once reliant on shallow tilling, now see ripping as a lifeline. Villagers, once cutting trees for fuel, now use fallen twigs, preserving forests. These shifts, small but powerful, help communities withstand climate impacts.

FAO and its partners plan to roll out FACE-NDC in other African countries and beyond, using behavioural science and related disciplines to increase the sense of ownership and make communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change. In Nyimba, the maize plots stand as proof: when farmers see better yields, they act. As Zambia battles deforestation and drought, these nudges offer a model for sustainable change, rooted in community trust and practical evidence.

Source: The FAO News And Media Office, Rome

– global bihari bureau