Assessment of Climate Resilience Strategies among Maize Farmers in Southern Zimbabwe: A Four-Year Performance Evaluation

Maize is a staple crop in Southern Zimbabwe's agricultural landscape, facing increasing climatic variability and unpredictability. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, including a survey of 200 randomly selected farmers in Southern Zimbabwe. Data collection involved interviews, focus groups, and field observations to capture multifaceted resilience strategies used by the community. Farmers implemented various adaptation techniques such as crop diversification (35%) and improved soil management practices (40%), with a notable increase in water harvesting methods observed over four years. The survey revealed that climate resilience measures have contributed to more stable maize yields among Southern Zimbabwean farmers, although challenges persist related to resource availability and market access. Investment in infrastructure for water management should be prioritised, alongside support programmes aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and farmer education on climate change impacts.