In 1998, the Zimbabwe farmers Union (ZFU), the German development co-operation (GTZ), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of South Africa and a number other organizations jointly organized an international workshop under the theme Conservation tillage for sustainable agriculture. Driven by the general desire among players and stakeholders to better and more share information and experiences on conservation agriculture and related aspects, the Workshop decided on initiation of a regional network as a mechanism to stimulate and facilitate crosscutting and mutually exchange of knowledge and information from experiences with CA (Benites, et al., 1998).

Under Project support from GTZ (4/2000 to 12/2003 and extended to 12/2005), the Network formally established a full-time Secretariat in 2000 and a 12-person Steering committee (nominated at the October 1999 ACT planning workshop).

The Network has since evolved into a neutral platform stimulating, facilitating and challenging for mutual sharing of information and knowledge on experiences/lessons on applications (promotion /adoption) of CA and expanding from its initial focus on Southern half of Africa to covering the rest of the continent.