By Bright Zhou
While most farmers in the country especially in regions 4 and 5 who had planted maize are facing adverse effects of an El Nino-induced drought that has hit the country, a Chivi farmer from ward 24, under Chief Gororo who heeded the call to plant small grains is one of those anticipating a good yield against odds of the looming food shortages.
Sibangani Sibanda is expecting to harvest 2 tonnes of sorghum from his 1.4-hectare field in Chivi, thanks to the USAID Takunda Project which donated sorghum seeds through the Ministry of Lands Agriculture Fisheries Water and Rural Development (MoLAFWRD).
“I am grateful to Takunda Project for the support they have given us this season. I received Rakodzi Sorghum seeds and was advised to cultivate traditional small grains when there is little rainfall. This was beneficial to me because my crops have survived the rainfall shortages and did not wilt, they were evergreen throughout and I am expecting a harvest of at least two tonnes,” said Sibanda.
Sibanda said apart from having food for his family, farming traditional grains had various benefits as he could also sell the grains or exchange them for maize and other grains, as other people can buy it for different purposes.
“I have realized some benefits from cultivating traditional grains and these include exchanging sorghum for maize at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB). There are also other markets as other people buy sorghum for beer brewing and other purposes,” said Sibanda.
MoLAFWRD Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri who toured Sibanda’s field urged farmers in the dry regions to adopt small grain crops when there is low rainfall to avoid food shortages as these can produce a better yield in dry seasons.
“We urged farmers to cultivate traditional small grains but instead they chose to cultivate maize and the few farmers who cultivated rapoko, sorghum, and millet have a good yield this year,” said Jiri.
Chivi Ward 28 councilor Christopher Muzvidziwa said he had urged farmers in his ward to cultivate traditional grains but most farmers were reluctant and went on to cultivate the maize crop which was detrimental to them as most crops were not spared by the drought.
“I urged farmers in my ward to cultivate traditional grain but they ignored the call, the few farmers who received tips and seeds from the project are now expecting a good yield output as compared to those who cultivated maize. We are grateful to the project owners and we encourage them to educate farmers about the benefits of cultivating traditional small grains,” said Muzvidziwa.
