Indigenous SWC in Southern Zimbabwe: a study of techniques, historical changes and recent developments under participatory research and extension

Soil and water conservation (SWC) have played an important role in the development of smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe. The introduction of the plough early this century triggered a drastic change in the farming system and in practices, virtually eradicating indigenous technical knowledge in soil and water conservation. As a consequence, degradation became so severe that from the 1940s the colonial administration forced smallholders to implement externally developed conservation works.