Traditional crops and herbs improve household health and nutrition in Chimanimani

Chipo Muzazi (62) lives in Chimanimani district, Manicaland Province, Chipo is working with Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme (ZSSP) partner, Chikukwa Ecological Land Use Community Trust (CELUCT) to learn about different traditional seed varieties, health and nutrition aspects of traditional crops. Putting what she has learnt into practice, Chipo has made her family, food, health, nutrition, and income secure. Photo: Theophilus Mudzindiko/PELUM Zimbabwe

Chipo Muzazi (62) is a grandmother of six who lives in Chimanimani district located in the eastern part of Zimbabwe. Chipo is the lead farmer in a seed study group known as Kuguta Kushanda, which loosely translates to ‘to eat and be full you have to work.’ This seed study group is working with Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme (ZSSP) partner, Chikukwa Ecological Land Use Community Trust (CELUCT). Using demonstration plots, the seed study group learns about different seeds and crops, nutritional benefits of different varieties and the importance of crop diversity, among other seed and agroecological practices.

Chipo has always grown traditional varieties but overtime had begun to allocate more land to industrial agriculture that uses hybrid seeds, chemicals and synthetic fertilisers. It was through working with CELUCT that Chipo began to allocate more land to grow traditional crops in significant proportions again.

“I have always grown small grains but I was starting to grow more hybrid seed. I saved and grew small quantities of small grains only for the purposes of making maheu [a fermented traditional drink] or giving to children when they fell ill. But I was no longer growing it in the way that I do now,” says Chipo.

Chipo says she has seen tremendous improvements in health and nutrition for herself and her family.

“I was growing and eating mainly hybrid maize. My fields lacked diversity because I was practising monoculture. A few years down the line, one of my children suffered from Kwashiorkor,” says Chipo.

Kwashiorkor, a form of malnutrition that comes as a result of protein deficiency made Chipo to see the link between her farming practices and the health of her children. Chipo was awakened and she began to make drastic changes. She began to grow and eat diverse traditional foods. She also planted herbs.

“People are receiving Malaria tablets but my family and I don’t even know what those pills look like. I grow diverse traditional grains and legumes including vegetables and herbs, “says Chipo.

Chipo says farmers can grow and consume traditional crops not just for nutrition and health reasons but also for improved livelihoods.

In Zimbabwe, produce from traditional varieties fetch a higher market price because of their demand by health conscious citizens.