dyton mupawaenda
Johnson Siamachira-Herald Correspondent
For 56-year-old Ranganai Shonhiwa, a smallholder farmer from Murehwa district in Zimbabwe, maize is life. This vital crop not only nourishes her family, but also provides the income needed for essentials like education and healthcare.
However, climate change poses a significant threat to maize farming, with increasing droughts and erratic rainfall patterns making agriculture increasingly challenging.
In response to these challenges, new drought-resistant maize varieties developed through decades of research are offering hope for farmers like Shonhiwa. These climate-smart crops are designed to withstand the intensifying droughts fuelled by global warming.
“It has been very difficult to keep practicing farming when the weather is unfriendly,” Shonhiwa reflects, her weathered hands showing the marks of years spent in the fields.
Severe droughts have devastated thousands of hectares of maize across Zimbabwe, pushing many farming families into poverty and hunger, only to be saved by Government interventions.Fortunately, Shonhiwa’s fortunes have begun to change. For the past several seasons, she has been cultivating a drought-tolerant hybrid maize that has become her lifeline. When she first planted hybrid maize in 2016, she was surprised by the results, yielding 30 bags per hectare—double her previous harvests.
“We have been working hard, and the harder we work, it gives us more hope that in the future, maybe, we can be better off,” she says, her determination shining through her eyes.
The introduction of these improved maize varieties is the result of over two decades of collaborative research involving government bodies, NGOs, seed dealers, and farmers.
Developed by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), these drought-tolerant hybrids can yield up to 20 percent more than other popular varieties in Zimbabwe, according to Dr Mainassara Zaman-Allah, CIMMYT’s country representative.
CIMMYT has been at the forefront of developing drought-tolerant maize through various initiatives, including Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) and Stress Tolerant Maize for Africa (STMA). The latest project, accelerating genetic gains in maize and wheat (AGG), aims to enhance the resilience of crops against climate change.
Farmers across Zimbabwe are increasingly recognising the benefits of these innovative crops. Martha Chivengwa, a 72-year-old farmer from Murehwa, experienced a significant transformation in her yields after switching to a drought-tolerant variety.
“Before testing the drought-tolerant variety, I used to get almost nothing from my fields. But when I tried the drought-tolerant variety, I harvested 50kg of white maize,” she shares, her face lighting up with joy.
CIMMYT continues to support farmers in 19 districts through on-farm trials and demonstrations, promoting climate-smart practices that help maintain maize yields despite increasingly challenging conditions. Dr Christian Thierfelder, CIMMYT’s principal cropping systems agronomist, emphasises the importance of soil management techniques.
“Soil quality is improved by reduced tillage and by rotating or intercropping maize with ‘green manures,’ legumes that add nitrogen and organic matter to the system,” he says.
These practices build healthier soils, conserve moisture, and enhance resilience to erratic weather.
Online Reporter