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OtherActiveSince 1988

Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre

Harare, Zimbabwe · Operator: Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre (Private Voluntary Organisation under the Zimbabwe Institute of Permaculture)

Overview

A pioneering centre on the outskirts of Harare that has taught permaculture and organic farming for over three decades. Credited with influencing nearly every related project in Zimbabwe, from urban and peri-urban gardens to rural farms, it trains practitioners of climate-resilient agriculture around the capital.

Citizen participation

Founded in 1988, it is one of Africa's oldest permaculture training institutions. At its demonstration farm on Harare's outskirts it offers permaculture design courses, a Diploma in Agroecology, and training in composting and indigenous crops, drawing city residents, schools, smallholders and community-garden members. It has spawned many successor organisations, including the SCOPE schools-permaculture program and PELUM.

Operating model

NGO operation funded by course fees, farm produce and domestic and international grants and partnerships (listed on FAO's Family Farming Knowledge Platform and shortlisted for the Lush Spring Prize), while also helping farmers develop markets for organic produce.

Impact

Served as the launch point for permaculture in Zimbabwe, incubating organisations such as the SCOPE schools-garden movement and the Natural Farming Network. It has spread organic methods and composting to community gardens and smallholders around Harare, supporting food security and soil regeneration.

Crops

  • vegetables
  • herbs
  • indigenous crops
  • fruit-trees

Scale

Demonstration farm and training centre at Mount Hampden on the north-western outskirts of Harare, with outreach to community gardens and smallholders across Zimbabwe

Sources(3)

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Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre — Urban Farm DB