adminAshley Mujoma
GOVERNMENT, in partnership with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) team, is set to launch the International Year of Millets in Zimbabwe.
It’s a move to help eradicate hunger in the country.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister, Vangelis Haritatos, said the Government has declared traditional grains such as sorghum, finger millet and pearl millet as strategic crops.
He said this was due to their drought tolerance, which makes them suitable for semi-arid regions of the country.
“The launch of the International Year of Millets in Zimbabwe clearly shows how traditional grains are being included in Government programmes.
“Farmers in the marginal agroecological areas are now getting input support to produce traditional grains.
“This has resulted in an increase in production of millets, for example, the area under pearl millet increased by 15 percent from 157 634 ha in the 2021/22 season to 181 661ha during the current season.
“Area under finger millet increased by 56 percent from 21 242 ha last season to 33 208ha currently.”
He said the Government was now promoting biodiversity in the agriculture sector.
“Traditional grains are nutrient dense and beneficial to health and they are important for diversifying our food systems as well as general crop biodiversity at household level.
“Government is already promoting biodiversity by encouraging farmers to grow cereal crops to enhance biodiversity while ensuring food and nutrition self-sufficiency and the attainment of Strategic Development Goal 2 of zero hunger,” he said.
Online Reporter