Small grains flourish despite prolonged dry spell

Pearl millet crop [during the prolonged dry spell] belonging to Nelson Mudzingwa (50), a smallholder farmer from Masvingo district and the National Coordinator of Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers Forum (ZIMSOFF). ZIMSOFF is a Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme (ZSSP) Partner operating in Masvingo province. Nelson’s field is one of the centers of excellence in the Shashe block of farms. Other farmers visit these farms to learn about Agroecology. Photo: Jerry Kudakwashe/Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre

Scanty rainfall and high temperatures during the first half of the 2019/2020 farming season left many farmers across Zimbabwe panic stricken. While the maize crop planted by many farmers at the onset on the rains wilted, Nelson Mudzingwa’s pearl millet, sorghum and finder millet flourished despite the extended dry spell.

Nelson (50) is a smallholder farmer practicing agroecology in Shashe village in Masvingo district. When the initial rains fell in December 2019, farmers in Shashe village planted their crops.

“I planted 2 hectares of pearl millet, 1.5 hectares or sorghum and 0.75 hectares of rapoko [finder millet] with the early December rains,” says Nelson.

However, unlike many other farmers, Nelson designed his fields to enable water harvesting and retention.

“My land is well designed with deep level contours that drain excess water into earth dams. I do not allow any excess water to be lost. That is my policy,” says Nelson.

Use of manure in his field in addition to applying water harvesting techniques enables his soil to hold water for longer period.

“I rear cattle, chickens and other small livestock from which I get manure. Right now I am in the process of collecting manure. I collect weeds which I remove from the fields as well as crop residue after harvesting and Imix this with dung. I give it a month or two to mature and then I apply the compost on the land around August. This improves the soil fertility as well as moisture retention,” says Nelson.

The combination of small grains [short-seasoned varieties] and agroecological practices has enabled Nelson and other farmers like him to improve their food, nutrition and income security despite the hot and dry climate.

“Some plots where farmers are growing maize have reached permanent wilting and some are thinking of replanting to avoid having a very poor harvest. On the other hand some of the farmers growing small grains have already harvested,” says Nelson.

“Since the first rains in December up to the second week of January we had no rains but I had almost the best crop. Pearl millet did particularly well. It was able to withstand heat and the dry spell,” adds Nelson.

Nelson encourages farmers to grow small grains because they are resilient to climate change.