Farmer managed seed systems key in climate change adaptation

Purity Chenjerayi (35) has been saving seeds at her home in Mupata Village Ward 22 in Gutu District as a way to preserve traditional varieties that adapt quicker to harsh climatic conditions. Purity says seed saving has enabled her to take care of her three children by helping her adapt to unpredictable weather patterns that are threatening food security. Photo: Collins Chirinda/Pelum Zimbabwe.

Smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe are reviving farm-saved seeds and practicing agroecology to increase their resilience to the changing climate.

Purity Chenjerai (35) is one of the smallholder farmers from Masvingo province who is working with the Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers’ Forum (ZIMSOFF) and increasingly growing, saving and exchanging farm saved seeds. Purity says before reverting to using farm saved seeds, her family faced perennial food insecurity.

“I adopted seed saving to fight hunger because I was seeing unpredictable weather patterns. Many plant varieties were disappearing and hybrid seeds were not coping with the climate extremes. I realized that seed saving was important to ensure food and nutrition security for my family. This is because traditional seeds can easily adapt to our local climate,” she says.

Purity says raising awareness on climate change and the role played by farmer managed seed systems in the context of climate change is key. But the voices of smallholder farmers in the climate change discourse have been largely unheard, silenced or forgotten.

Charity Kwenzani (47) is an Agricultural, Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX) officer working in Masvingo province. Charity says before farmers were introduced to seed saving and agroecology, the effects of climate change were devastating.

“Awareness raising and training of farmers on farmer managed seed systems and agroecology is important. It strengthens farmers’ resilience and livelihoods,” she says.

Roseline Mukonoweshuro (50), is a Programme Officer working with Towards Sustainable Use of Resources Organisation (TSURO) Trust. Roseline says adoption of farmer-managed seed systems has proven key to the resilience of farming communities.

Roseline says seed saving is improving farmers’ resilience and food sovereignty. “The aim of this work is to promote food sovereignty and increase farmers’ resilience to climatic shocks,” she says.

“Farmers can form consortia to support themselves and advocate for climate action to government and international bodies since they are the most affected,” she adds.