The Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty (ZSSP) partner, Chikukwa Ecological Land Use Community Trust (CELUCT) is strengthening food security among smallholder farmers in Chimanimani district in Manicaland province, through implementing diverse interventions such as nutrition gardens, home orchards, and seed sharing to reduce hunger and apathy in the community.
CELUCT has organised training workshops, exchange visits and seed fairs in the district to help smallholder farmers to understand and enhance their knowledge about their farming operations. One of the farmers who has benefited from CELUCT’s interventions is Chipo Muzazi (49) who lives in Ward 10 in Rujeko village.
Chipo got involved with CELUCT when she was selected to participate in seed fairs for farm saved seeds. CELUCT then selected her along with other farmers to be taught about seed saving, production, storage and exchange. She liked the idea of seed saving because she faced perennial problems in securing seeds for her farm. Chipo wanted to produce and save her own seeds. As the lead farmer of a seed study group working with CELUCT, Chipo has attended many workshops and exchange visits that have equipped her with more information on seed growing and saving.
“After participating in workshops and exchange visits I give feedback to and train other farmers on the various issues pertaining to farm saved seeds that I would have learnt. I also train others on good farming practices such as using live bean crop to mulch maize crop and constructing water harvesting channels,” says Chipo.
Over the past two years, Chipo has seen her knowledge and skills in seed production, saving and storage improving. She has gone on to share the acquired knowledge and skills with other farmers in her community.
“We have a demonstration plot where we study, test, experiment and understand more about seeds in a practical manner before we grow the seeds in our plots. I am happy that the community is improving through my teachings and I am excited to see more people getting involved in seed fairs through my encouragement,” says Chipo.
Chipo is excited that farmers are increasingly using agroecology and farm saved seeds and she says she foresees a brighter future.
“My dream is that all smallholder farmers will no longer buy any seed from commercial seed houses. I see farm saved seeds being stocked and sold among smallholder farmers. I see communities becoming more knowledgeable so that the future generations are taught about and appreciate farm saved seeds. I see healthy foods in abundance and less diseases,” says Chipo.