By Brighton Chiseva
In a region where climate change has made rainfall a scarce commodity, an innovative farmer in Zaka District is making waves by growing small grain, a crop he believes is suitable for the area’s challenging weather conditions.
Amiel Jekese, a 34-year-old father of three from Matizirofa Village in Ward 19, had been growing maize and cotton. Last season, a field day was held at his homestead, attracting the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Davies Marapira, who is also the local MP.
Despite initial skepticism from fellow farmers, his perseverance has paid off, and he is now expecting a bumper harvest.
“I realized that our traditional crops, such as maize, were no longer viable for our region due to the erratic rainfall patterns caused by climate change. Small grain, on the other hand, is more resilient and requires less water, making it an ideal crop for our area,” said Jekese.
Jekese said he was born to peasant farmers and grew up working in the fields, cultivating small grain, which also inspired him to start growing it.
“I studied agriculture at school, and I grew up working in the fields since my father was a peasant farmer. He used to grow rapoko, and my mother would brew beer, and the proceeds were used to fend for the family and send us to school.
“So, when I discovered that maize was not doing well due to poor rainfall, I decided to start growing small grains, and now I have a hectare of rapoko and half a hectare of millet,” said Jekese.
He said he works with his wife since his kids are still young and he cannot afford to hire labor, which has forced him to work even during the night.
“Some people think I use juju because I only work with my wife, though since our kids are still young. I cannot afford to hire labor, so I am forced to work even at night when there is a full moon,” he said.
He urged other farmers in the locality to adopt small grain farming, which he said was promising and had been encouraged by agriculture experts.
Jekese said his vision was to get a borehole for irrigation, saying that would enhance his productivity since he has a passion for farming.
“I have the power and passion, but I am still lacking resources. My wish is to get a borehole so that I can start irrigation and grow crops all year round,” said Jekese.
Apart from small grain, he also has two hectares of cotton and said he was the second-best cotton farmer nationally in last year’s competitions.
Jekese’s small grain fields have become a model for other farmers in the district, who are eager to learn from his experiences and adopt similar practices. His success has also caught the attention of local agricultural authorities, who are now considering promoting small grain cultivation as a viable option for farmers in the region.
Marapira commented on the farmer, saying he was doing great and heeding the call to grow small grain, which is drought-tolerant, considering that Zaka receives low rainfall.
“We encourage farmers to grow small grain, and Jekese is leading the way. We urge our youths to emulate him,” said Marapira.
Zaka District Agricultural Advisory Services (Ardas) officer Kennedy Pedzisai confirmed Jekese’s work and said he was among the best in the district.
“Last season, Jekese managed to conduct a successful cotton and maize field day, which was officiated by the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. He did not end there but proceeded to the national level, where he got the second national prize in cotton production. This season is his second year doing traditional grain crop production,” said Pedzisai.
He urged farmers to emulate Jekese and grow traditional crops and gave general tips for good crop production.
“Though farmers continue to produce maize, we encourage them to produce traditional grain and also to observe good agricultural practices like liming of soil, organic/inorganic fertilizer application, correct plant population, and proper land preparation. “We also encourage farmers to ensure weed, pest, and disease control and bird guard to control birds, especially on small grain,” said Pedzisai.
