The Sunday News
Nkosilathi Sibanda, Farming Correspondent
SMALLholder farmers at Bidi Village in Matobo District have started an agro-ecology project to boost a seed bank of a variety of small grains to augment the availability of drought resistant crop seeds in the country.
The seed bank, stationed at St Joseph’s area, is meant to help farmers in the area to be part of conservation farming concepts that include the Intwasa/Pfumvudza model that the Government is encouraging in all farming lands this planting season.
Sustainable and environmentally friendly techniques are applied in the storage, treatment and packaging of a variety of small grains. Small grains (sorghum, pearl and finger millet) are ranked second as staple cereal crop after maize in Zimbabwe. These are now stocked at the St Joseph’s seed bank, with a variety that also includes cowpeas.
Teaming up with Caritas Zimbabwe, a Catholic Church relief organisation, villagers under Chief Bidi Ndiweni in wards 8 and 9 cleared land and started an agro-ecology centre from where the seed bank was established.
“The setting up of the seed bank was a collective idea among villagers. This is the most sustainable way in ensuring that farmers plant small grains to end hunger and conserve the environment. This dovetails with the Pfumvudza/ Intwasa concept because small grains do well in this district. The farmers will be food secure as well,” said Caritas Zimbabwe Bulawayo development co-ordinator Mr Welcome Sibanda.
The chairman of the St Joseph’s seed bank, Mr Felix Ncube said their prospects are to attain sustainability through ending over dependence on seed donations.
“We see this seed bank as serving the whole country. Why should we as farmers rely on seed handouts? Our commitment to the seed bank is to see ourselves self-dependent, being able to plant what grows well in our farms. We do not want to starve and fail to farm,” he said.
Ms Hleziphi Nkomo the lead farmer trainer at St Joseph’s Agro ecology centre said there were plans to spread their seed stock to other dry regions countrywide.
“With support from partners that include Caritas Zimbabwe, Agritex officials and other agronomists, farmers are planning a value chain out of the seed bank. Instead of only storing for use in seasons to come, we have planned to package our seed and be ready to sell it to other farmers who have found new faith in small grains,” she said.
Ms Nkomo said farmers have faith in the Intwasa/Pfumvudza concept.
