Reduced input costs improves household income for farmers

Peace Nyakazeya (43) is a smallholder farmer who lives in Chimanimani district, Manicaland province. She is working with PELUM Zimbabwe partner, Towards Sustainable Use of Resources (TSURO). Photo: Theophilus Mudzindiko/PELUM Zimbabwe

Peace Nyakazeya (43) is a smallholder farmer, mother of six children and widow who has been working with PELUM Zimbabwe partner, Towards Sustainable Use of Resources Organisation (TSURO) Trust under the Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme (ZSSP) for the last four years in Chimanimani district, Manicaland province.

When Peace first got engaged with the work of TSURO Trust, she only grew hybrid seed and had a negative attitude towards small grains.

“Before I started working with TSURO Trust, I only grew hybrid maize. I didn’t grow any small grains. I viewed small grains as labour intensive and seed for poor people,” says Peace.

Peace is a member of a seed study group, where she receives skills and knowledge on growing traditional and open pollinated varieties (OPVs). Working as a seed study group member has helped Peace to see the multitude of benefits and advantages of growing traditional seed and OPVs. She has made a dramatic U-turn from her former stance and attitude and is now an active proponent of traditional seeds and OPVs.

“I started growing small grains because the seed is easily available, accessible and affordable. Small grains are also not easily attacked by pests and diseases and they are drought tolerant. I also realised that small grains are very nutritious and they taste better,” says Peace.

Peace’s decision to shift from growing hybrid maize to growing traditional seed has proved that she is a farmer who walks the talk.

“In the last farming season I conducted some experiments in my field. I planted hybrid maize in half of the field and OPV maize and Millet in the other half. I observed that the hybrid maize cobs looked appealing to the eye but upon harvesting, a lot of the maize cobs were rotten. I harvested more from OPV seed. My neighbours witnessed my success and asked for OPV and small grain seed which I gave free of charge,” says Peace.

Peace intends to only grow traditional and OPV seed on her farm because it reduces costs of production and enables her to generate income to support her family.