The Future of Farming in Zimbabwe — Ep. 1: A Story of Two Farms

In Episode 1, I set the foundation for this six-part series on the future of farming in Zimbabwe.I share my own story - growing up on a farm near Gweru, losing it during the Fast Track Land Reform period, and later returning to Zimbabwe to work on rural development. Then we zoom out and go back to the beginning: how Zimbabwe’s colonial land policies created “two farms” - a well-resourced commercial sector built for export, and overcrowded communal areas locked out of capital, research, and opportunity.This history is the backdrop to everything that follows - and it sets up Episode 2, where we tackle the Fast Track Land Reform Programme and the economic shockwaves that reshaped Zimbabwean agriculture.Full episode transcript, photos, and more background info here: https://stevepocock.com.au/podcast Check out my Nuffield report here: https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/reports/zw/2024/future-farming-zimbabwe-realising-resilient-inclusive-and-sustainable-agricultural