Tsholotsho hosts second Good Seed and Food Festival to celebrate traditional agriculture

TSHOLOTSHO District is today hosting the second edition of the Good Seed and Food Festival, a vibrant celebration of traditional agriculture and culinary heritage.

The event, being held at Tada Hall, brings together hundreds of farmers, seed suppliers, agro-food processors, community organisations, and government representatives as part of a national initiative to revive indigenous crops and food systems.

Running under the theme “Nurturing Our Future, Reviving Our Heritage,” the festival aims to promote the cultivation and consumption of traditional crops by encouraging knowledge exchange, collaboration, and market development.

More than 300 farmers from across Tsholotsho District are attending, exhibiting a diverse array of indigenous seeds, traditional dishes, and agricultural innovations. Exhibitors include seed companies such as Seed Co, Zadzamatura, K2, and the Community Technology Development Organisation (CTDO), a pioneer in community seed banking.

Agro-food processors like Buntu Foods and Ingwebu, alongside agricultural input provider FarmShop, are also present.

The event is expected to be officially graced by Mr Thulani Ndlovu, Deputy Director in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.

Festival activities include seed swaps, a dedicated children’s corner, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, and notably, a high-level discussion on product aggregation models with the private sector — a topic viewed as critical to strengthening market linkages for smallholder farmers.

Speaking on behalf of the organising committee, Mr Rodney Mushongachiware from the Good Seed and Food Festival (GSFF) and the MASP Programme emphasised the importance of the event in fostering agricultural resilience and heritage preservation.

“On behalf of the Good Seed and Food Festival (GSFF) Organising Committee and MASP Programme, we are proud to bring together over 300 farmers from across Tsholotsho District to showcase indigenous and traditional crops, plants, foods, and seeds,” said Mr Mushongachiware.

“The first national Good Seed and Food Festival was held in Harare in 2013. Since then, annual editions have continued, and in 2021 we began rolling out district-level festivals to broaden farmer participation, increase the exchange of knowledge, and stimulate trade. Tsholotsho, which is well known for its livestock and surplus production of crops like sorghum, millet, and wild fruits, offers significant potential for private sector investment.”

He added that this year’s festival provides multiple avenues for participating companies and organisations to engage directly with farming communities and explore future collaborations.

“Opportunities include an Elevator Pitch Session, direct engagement with farmers and discussions on aggregation,” he said.