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Patience Maturure
Agriculture Correspondent
Traditional grains have the potential to boost food and nutrition security, a senior Government official has said.
Addressing farmers at a sorghum field day held at Mukarati Village, Ward 19, Muzarabani today, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said traditional grains had the potential to improve livelihoods especially of people in low rainfall areas such as Muzarabani.
“We know this area is hot, receives low rainfall but has rich soils. Traditional grains do well in this region and we encourage our farmers to grow crops according to their agro-ecological regions. They should go by nature.
“Where there is low rainfall we must respond by growing traditional grains which give us good yields,” he said.
“This initiative aims to improve food security by providing farmers with the necessary support and inputs to increase their yields, improving their livelihoods and promoting the production and consumption of traditional grains.
Prof Jiri emphasised that sorghum yields that had been achieved this season are a testament to the potential of traditional grains in Muzarabani District.
“That is the grain we must eat because it is naturally bio fortified with rich nutrients like zinc, magnesium and so forth,” he said.
Prof Jiri said the swap programme whereby farmers could exchange their traditional grains for maize was still operational.
He however, urged farmers to eat traditional grains which are healthier.
The field day was aimed at providing a platform for farmers to share knowledge and best practices on sorghum production.a
Online Reporter