Prospects and Challenges for Food Security in Rural Zimbabwe: Unearthing the Contestations in Conservation Farming in Mukore Village of Bikita

Abstract: The paper sought to investigate the challenges and prospects for effective institutionalization of conservation farming as a food security measure amidst the gross incidence of drought and failure of traditional subsistence agriculture in Zimbabwean rural areas. The study endeavored to achieve this through exploring the contestations among various stakeholders in their efforts to educate the rural folk about the viability of conservation farming as an option for curbing the proliferation of droughts and improve livelihoods of the rural communities. Of the many findings elicited by the research, it was established that, the perceptual, technocratic and political contestations among various actors in conservation farming should be addressed and rationalized for the fruition of the efforts to create sustainable agricultural framework and rural livelihoods. The research thrived through Norman Long's Actor Oriented Approach in which the various power dynamics between agents due to different positions, knowledge and influence presented differential "˜lifeworlds' for contestations. The research methodologically proceeded within the qualitative framework in which case, in-depth interviews with key informants and focus group discussions were used as data gathering tools.