A diagnostic participatory and questionnaire survey of 451 farmers was conducted in Tsholotsho, Chinyika and Mutoko Communal Areas in Zimbabwe to understand farmers’ crop production constraints in relation to draft power. Nearly half (49%) of all the farmers had no draft animals but 55% of these had access to neighbours’ or relatives’ animals. The rest hired or worked in others’ fields in exchange for draft use. Animal diseases and shortage of grazing land were noted as the major problems in animal production. Both farmer education and experience as well as household herd were found to vary between districts (p<0.001). Tsholotsho had the largest number of farmers (53%) with more than 10 years’ experience and Mutoko had the largest proportion (43%) of ‘master farmers’. Farmer education and experience were found to be independent of gender. The average land holdings per farmer for Tsholotsho, Chinyika and Mutoko were 6.2, 4.2 and 1.6 ha, respectively. Tsholotsho is a dry area whilst Chinyika is a resettlement area. Mutoko is a typical communal area with a high population pressure. Maize is the main crop in Chinyika and Mutoko whilst millet is common in Tsholotsho.