Community perceptions on the role of humwe in enhancing rural food security: a case study of Dzawanda village, Gokwe south, Zimbabwe

This study explored the diverse perceptions of Dzawanda villages in Gokwe South District on the role of humwe in enhancing rural food security. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires, interviews and observations. Findings of the study show that humwe plays a pivotal role in promoting food security due to the concept of working in together. Poor households finds it easy to access food because the partnership built through the planting season which extend well beyond the harvesting season. After the harvest, the households who received surplus share with those who have realized inadequate yields. Those with high yield sell the surplus to those with little or they can make them work for the food through clearing land and putting manure in the field for the following season. This reduce labor costs and the money would be used in other household requirements or purchasing input for the following session. From the findings, the community appreciated humwe as a milestone to food security as it increases their yields through labor input. However this does not culminate to Dzawanda household food security since food security is encompassed by number of factors. This is because the agricultural systems is being compromised by other factors such as erratic rainfall, poor soils, low levels of education, poor access to technology and access to credit facilities traditional practices has been practiced for a long period but the food security situation has not been improving whilst humwe theory proves that it is the solution to food insecurity its main constraint as currently practiced in Dzawanda village as it is heavily reliant on rainfall. The study concluded that humwe plays a positive role in food security of Dzawanda village although its faces challenges such as labor shortages and poor participation of community members in the practice. These problems can be solved by conscientising the community about the role being played by humwe in food security by practicing early cropping using herbicides to save time and encouraging institutional support for humwe