Smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe are increasing the production of small grains, a move necessitated by annual crop failure caused by high temperatures and less rainfall. Philemon Ncube (50) is one of the smallholder farmers from Matobo, a semi-arid district located in Matabeleland south province, 38 kilometres from Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo.
Philemon says growing small grains is a coping strategy as climate change continues to wreak havoc to the maize crop. He says communities abandoned small grains in favour of maize but this has caused severe food insecurity.
During the 2019/2020 agricultural season Philemon harvested five bags of sorghum and four bags of pearl millet. This was enough to feed his wife and five children.
“Maize was grown for roasting and not for storing in the granary,” says Philemon. But many farmers continue to grow maize as the staple crop despite its poor performance in areas where temperatures are high and the rains are low.
Farmers working with PELUM Zimbabwe members across the country are beginning to see the value of growing small grains.
These farmers are saying small grains are helping them to feed their families, earn income and to practice their culture and tradition.
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