changing climate, which shows they are aware of the changing climatic conditions. Most use more than one adaptation strategy and most use a number of strategies simultaneously.

The adaptation strategy most commonly used (about 21%) is dry and early planting. Farmers therefore need seed varieties that can stay in the soil for some time before the rains, as well as early maturing varieties. They also urgently need easy access to climatic forecasts of the oncoming season. Meteorological and extension information services need to provide farmers with up-to-date information about rainfall patterns in the forthcoming season so that they can make well-informed decisions about planting dates. All this will help ensure that farmers make efficient use of the little rains when they come so their crops can mature within the short wet season and survive the recurrent mid-season droughts.

Other adaptation strategies farmers are using are winter plowing, planting short season varieties, irrigating, and growing drought resistant crops. Winter plowing is very important as it helps conserve moisture, especially when it is done soon after the winter rains. This conserved moisture is important for the success of dry and early planting farming activities that most farmers use as an adaptation strategy. Well-planned winter plowing and water harvesting during the rainy season will be important sources of moisture for successful crop development and growth before the rains. It is therefore important that draft power be accessible and available, to enable farmers to carry out winter plowing in time. The government can help farmers by providing tractors and fuel for tillage, for example through the District Development Fund in the new resettlement areas.

Farmers also indicated that they plant short season and drought resistant crop varieties and practice multiple cropping that includes changing crop mixes. Planting short season and drought resistant crop varieties increases the chances of successful harvests and hence higher net farm revenues despite adverse climatic conditions. Multiple cropping ensures that farmers are able to get some positive net returns from their farming activities: when some crops fail others will produce some positive returns, particularly drought resistant crops such as sorghum.

It is therefore important for plant cultivating companies, research units and the government to make available short season and drought resistant crop varieties that can do well in poor seasons. A typical example is the very short season varieties of maize seed such as SC401, SC403, and medium varieties such as SC501. Farmers need seed varieties to suit their climatic conditions, but in recent seasons there have been shortages of seeds, particularly maize, forcing them to buy whatever is available on the market. The government must ensure that seed varieties are available by promoting and providing conducive environments for seed development in the country and by importing seed to meet the high domestic demand.

Generally agriculture in Zimbabwe has been found to be sensitive to changes in climate, as indicated from the sensitivity analysis above. Farmers plainly need to use adaptation strategies, both short-term (seasonal) and long-term, such as adopting new agricultural technologies to cushion themselves against further anticipated adverse climatic conditions. They need to grow drought tolerant and short season crop varieties that can mature in poor climatic conditions. Other strategies include using support services such as irrigation technologies to augment rainfall and increase production and revenues in the smallholder farming areas. The government, private companies and NGOs must provide support services such as extension and information to help farmers adapt to changing climate.

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