Vusumuzi Dube
Wilbrought Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
SISONKE Working Together Trust is working with Matopo Research Institution to promote the uptake of small grain crops in the drought prone districts of Matabeleland South Province.
The Trust has been engaging farmers in Matobo and Bulilima districts online as well as through field visits with the objective of ensuring food sufficiency in the communities where they are encouraging the production of drought resistant traditional small grain crops.
Sisonke Trust Director Mr Themba Phiri said it was encouraging that most farmers in the two districts were taking heed of the advice and were now shifting from maize to small grains such pearl millet, sorghum and cow peas as an adaptation measure to climate change.
He said his organisation was working hand in hand with Matopo Research Institution in encouraging programmes that promote farmer field school where farmers share knowledge between themselves without an expert.
“So far 270 communal farmers are participating in the programme. Although we had erratic rains in the 2022/23 season in the province, most farmers who planted the okatshana pearl millet varieties in Wards 10 and 11 of Matobo got good yields with those also in Bulilima who planted SV4 variety in Bulilima recording minimal yields.
“We had the pleasure of attending the three field days in these two districts with farmers observing how good and palatable these crops are. Farmers also highlighted the high nutritional benefit of the crops.
We are happy as a Trust that some of the farmers in Matabeleland South are permanently shifting to growing small grains while a number of them have vowed to create seed banks and also supply the seed to farmers in the district.
The farmers are saying the four facets of food security are realised when planting small grains,” said Mr Phiri adding that farmers in drought prone areas of the country should focus their attention on small grains.
He said the need for communities to grow small grains and the encouragement that they were giving was to prepare them to be able to adapt to the effects of climate change.
“As Sisonke Working Together Trust and our various partners, we want to realise food security at household and community levels first which translates into national food security.
So, we are advising farmers that if they want to avert hunger which is brought about by drought fuelled by climate change, they should turn a corner and plant small grains. ” he said.
Online Reporter