The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Farming Reporter
THE Member of Parliament for Zvishavane-Runde constituency, Cde Fred Gandiwa Moyo, has expressed satisfaction over the success of the small grains programme he pioneered in his area of jurisdiction at the start of his term in 2013.
Cde Moyo, who is also Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister, said the small grains programme he initiated in the 2013/14 farming season through the assistance of Murowa Diamonds has played a significant role in improving nutritional levels and household food security in the district.
“I had to do a lot of work to push the focus on small grains, a huge effort of education, almost to call it propaganda in a way. I am not saying people should not grow maize but let’s mix it with small grains, plant both. If we get good rains we are assured of a good maize yield, if we don’t then your small grains will rescue you,” said Cde Moyo.
Small grains are being promoted as a crop better equipped to handle adverse weather conditions and more suitable for long-term storage, but they remain unpopular with most communal farmers in arid areas.
The pilot small grains project was commenced in Chief Mazvihwa’s area where 400 farmers were selected by Agritex officers in each of the four wards situated in that locality.
The farmers were allocated three one-kilogramme (kg) packets of rapoko and sorghum of different varieties to determine the one which best suits the climatic conditions in their area.
Before embarking on the programme, Cde Moyo took part of the farmers, councillors, traditional leaders from Chief Mazihwa’s area and Agritex officers for a two-day workshop in Gutu that was conducted by seed houses.
“We took them for a workshop in Gutu because Gutu does well in small grains in fact, it rarely runs out of food . . . Our first attempt was very successful, our yields were quite good. We went and gave prizes to the best Agritex officer whose ward produced more than the others and prizes to the best farmers that attained the highest yields.
“We followed that into the next season of 2014/15 and by the end of that season in Chief Mazvihwa people were self sufficient in terms of small grains. We were actually at a stage where we were battling to help them to sell. Unfortunately GMB (Grain Marketing Board) buys small grains at the same price as maize so farmers are not happy so I am trying to lure breweries to buy from these farmers,” said Cde Moyo.
He said he convinced Murowa Diamonds management to roll out the programme to Chief Masunda’s area where 100 farmers in each of the nine wards have been selected the project for the 2015/16 season.
“Murowa Diamond had said it only wanted to assist communities where its claims are located and its claims only cover four wards under Chief Mazvihwa but don’t stretch up to Chief Masunda’s area of jurisdiction. Thus it (the company) didn’t want to extend the programme to reach there.
“It’s only this year that I have managed to force them (company management), by saying you need to help because you are not in a ward, you are in a district so you must assist. So the management agreed to extend the programme to Chief Masunda’s area,” Cde Moyo said.
He said the expansion of the small grains programme was likely to play an integral role in improving household food security in the district.
“I think by the third season we will be self-sufficient as a district in terms of small grains. Remember we should not only be self-sufficient in quantity but we are also talking of nutrition. So people must realise that small grains work in a number of ways they are dry tolerant, they are also good in nutrition and health,” said Cde Moyo.
The Zvishavane-Runde legislator also initiated community garden projects in his area of jurisdiction while his wife Yeyani has been distributing free range chicks to women and youths in her husband’s constituency.
