Community seed mapping key for food security

Makuni community, Rushinga district seed diversity wheel. The seed mapping process in Makuni Village was done by Farmers Association of Community self-Help Investment Groups (FACHIG), a member of PELUM Zimbabwe in partnership with the Seed and Knowledge Initiative. One key findings from the diversity wheel was that pearl millet, which performs very well when there is a prolonged dry spell, is only grown by a few old women in the area. Photo: Ruvimbo Mupariwa/FACHIG

Ruvimbo Mupariwa (29) says as climate change continues to wreck havoc to livelihoods, it is critical for communities take stock of their seed varieties.

Ruvimbo is a Programme Officer for the Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme and PELUM Zimbabwe Member, Farmers Association of Community self-Help Investment Groups (FACHIG). Her organisation conducted a participatory community seed mapping exercise in Makuni village in Rushinga district early this year.

“The poor 2018/2019 farming season sent everyone into panic mode. There is food insecurity and the Government has lifted the import ban of genetically modified maize,” says Ruvimbo.

Ruvimbo says the problems of food insecurity and allowing GMOs in the country is unnecessary because traditional seed can resolve the food crisis, diversity crisis, climate crisis, options crisis and more.

“We have our own traditional varieties which are doing well despite the drought. Instead of turning to GMOs we should be promoting home grown varieties. That is what we are doing. We need to invest in understanding, reviving and promoting our traditional varieties as a country, “adds Ruvimbo.

In Zimbabwe, some organisations and Government are beginning to see the value of traditional seeds. However, Ruvimbo worries and hopes that the revival process does not take the conventional approach of simply giving out seed to people without a deeper engagement and connection with the communities to understand the various dynamics at play.

“If we just use the same method of handing out seed without understanding contexts we will not make significant progress. There is need to work closely with communities and the process starts with the community going on a journey into the past. This way the community understands their story of origin, the food they ate and the transition that led to the current status quo,” says Ruvimbo.

Ruvimbo says community seed mapping is one of the tools that is used in this process. It provides the community with comprehensive information about their seed, gender relations, nutrition diversity, and more. Ruvimbo says this information helps the community to develop their baseline data from which to strategise and trace progress made as they work to reweave the basket of life.