Britain training Zimbabwe smallholder farmers to cope with climate change

Britain is training smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe to strengthen their ability to cope with the effects of climate change and supporting them to grow drought resistant crops such as groundnuts, sesame and mung beans.

This was said in the House of Lords by Baroness Verma, the Under-Secretary of State for International Development, is response to a question from Lord St John Blesto who wanted to know what the United Kingdom was doing to assist in alleviating the impact of the current drought in Zimbabwe.

She said Britain had supported 350 000 people through cash transfers of £15 million. The programme which started in September last year ends in July.

“An estimated 2.8 million people currently face food insecurity in Zimbabwe, so the UK is also helping to build their longer term resilience to future droughts. Our programmes provide training to smallholder farmers strengthening their ability to cope with the effects of climate change; and supporting them to grow drought resistant crops – such as ground nuts, sesame and mung bean for sale to the market.”

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