Farm saved seeds brighten life of Youth in Chimanimani

Kudzai Bindiridza (25) is a mother of two from Chimanimani district. Kudzaiis has been working with Towards Sustainable Use of Resources Organisation (TSURO) Trust, a PELUM-ZWE member and partner in the Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme (ZSSP) since 2014. Kudzai is a seed grower and her family is reaping the financial and nutritional benefits of farm saved seeds. Photo: Mellisa Pemhenukai/TSURO Trust

Colonialism and globalization have led to a loss of identity. Zimbabwe, like many African countries, has not been spared from this attack which has given birth to cultural decadence. The impact is most evident among youths, whose lives seem to be under a powerful spell cast to drive them to mindlessly consume the latest goods and services on the market.

While it cannot be denied that modernisation has brought positive developments, it is undisputable that it has caused more harm than good especially among youths who now undermine, disrespect and disregard indigenous African foods and the practices that have sustained them for generations.

Towards Sustainable Use of Resources Organisation (TSURO) Trust, a PELUM Zimbabwe member and partner in the Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme (ZSSP) is turning tables around by working with youths to correct the damage done by modernisation which has left communities in Chimanimani district living in great pain and trauma.

Kudzai Bindiridza (25) is one of the many young women working with TSURO Trust and relying on the land to feed her family.

“Before joining TSURO Trust in 2014, I used to find it difficult if not impossible to provide three meals a day for my family,” says Kudzai.

Kudzai found it difficult to secure adequate seed to grow food. She, however, had a strong desire to produce and save her own seed.

“I would source from my neighbours but the seed was never enough,” she says.

“My wish was to learn how to produce and save my own seeds. Begging from my neighbours was becoming tiresome,” says Kudzai.

One day, Kudzai attended a seed fair organised by TSURO Trust. She got different types of seed that she wanted to grow. She also began to participate in capacity building activities facilitated by TSURO Trust. In a short space of time, Kudzai had acquired the knowledge and skills she needed to grow and multiply the seed she had collected during the seed fair. Kudzai now boasts of how farm saved seeds have transformed her diet and income.

“Ever since l started to produce my own seeds, food is nolonger a problem to me and my family. We also have access to a market where I can sell some seeds and use the funds to purchase other basic needs as well as pay school fees for my children,” says Kudzai.