Farmers urged to grow small grains

Bherevhi Sangana (47) is a member of a seed study group working with ZSSP partner, FACHIG in Rushinga district, Zimbabwe. Bherevi grows sorghum and open pollinated maize varieties for food, nutrition and income security for his family. Photo: PELUM Zimbabwe

Community Health Workers in Rushinga District in Mashonaland Central Province are encouraging villagers in the district to grow and consume small grains such as millet and sorghum because of their high nutritional content.

One of the villagers who has taken heed of the call to grow and eat small grains is Bherevhi Sangana (47) who lives with his family of seven in Ward 19 and is a member of a Seed study Group that is working with the Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme (ZSSP) partner, Farmers Association of Community Self-Help Investment Groups (FACHIG).

Bherevhi and his family own a 3 hectare plot where they grow a diversity of crops using farm saved seeds. Bherevhi calls himself, “Musoja wembeu”, which when translated means a soldier for farm saved seeds. He says his duty is to guard and promote the use, preservation and production of farm saved seeds in his community.

“I grow sorghum and open pollinated maize seed as the staple food for my family. I specialise in varieties such as mashava, bharabhara, mbuya mungafe, kagwee and musvuura gudo. I got sorghum variety from Chimanimani district during an exchange visit organised by FACHIG,” says Bherevhi.

Bherevhi also grows groundnuts, finger millet, bambara nuts and a mixed variety of cow peas to supplement protein needs for his family. He sells surplus produce to earn an income.

“Many people in Rushinga district have become conscious of what they eat and now constitute the majority of buyers of my small grains and groundnuts. The money that I get from the sells is primarily used for accessing health services, buying clothing, paying school fees and buying required schooling materials for my children,” says Bherevhi.

Bherevhi now prefers growing small grains because they are drought resistant, they can be selected and saved for future use and they require less external inputs such as fertilizers. Despite the changing climate, Bherevhi says he has not lost hope because he is confident that his small grains are drought resistant. This guarantees him and his family sufficient food and good nutrition.