International scientists have joined hands with non-governmental organisations such as World Vision to launch a five-million dollar research initiative to improve the lives of millions of poor farmers living in and around the Limpopo river basin. Almost 14 million people live in the Limpopo river basin, which has a catchment area of 413,000 square kilometres – including rivers and tributaries flowing through Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa.