Smallholder farmers in Gwanda district located in Matabeleland South province approximately 127 kilometres from the city of Bulawayo, southern Zimbabwe are improving their knowledge and skills in Participatory Variety Selection (PVS). This is enabling them to produce seed that withstand droughts.
Lima Katso Moyo (52), Nomsa Koza (37), and Tsenulo Ndlovu (44) are seed growers working with Practical Action. The three women are specialising in PVS as part of their efforts to grow and save farmer seeds.
“The Practical Action project has enabled us to be in a position to conserve, protect, multiply and share among ourselves seed varieties which were slowly running out,” says Lima.
Loss of certain traditional varieties coupled with the changing climate is a deadly duo that threatens food, nutrition and income security for smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. The erosion of culture and tradition around seed has left younger generations without knowledge and skills of seed saving and selection.
“We are now able to do seed selection on our own based on the characteristics and qualities we will be looking for in a seed variety.We used to grow mixed seeds but now we are able to identify and select varieties and keep records,” adds Nomsa.
The ability to select appropriate varieties has boosted their food and income security. The three are now able to select and plant short term varieties.
“Without this knowledge on seed varieties I imagine we would have remained poor farmers, without food to feed our families or make a living in the future,” says Tsenulo.
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