The Sunday News
Chrispen Gumunyu, Farming Reporter
A GROUP of non-governmental organisations has embarked on an extensive seed breeding project in the Matabeleland region in a bid to preserve genetic diversity through the Matabeleland Enhanced Livelihoods Agriculture and Nutrition Adaption (Melana) programme.
Melana is a programme being undertaken under the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF). ZRBF is a five-year multi donor initiative with an overall budget of US$75 million and a total funding commitment of US$72 million.
It is managed by United Nations Development Programme and funded by the European Union, Swedish International Development Agency, Department for International Development and United Nations Development Programme.
The ZRBF comprises seven consortia that operate in 18 districts of Zimbabwe, which include Welthungherhilfe, Community Technology Development Organisation and Agricultural Partnerships Trust. ZRBF project co-ordinator Mr Edson Dhlakama said four state-of-the-art community seed banks have been constructed in four districts in Matabeleland.
One of the seed banks was constructed in Umzingwane District in Matabeleland South while the other three were set up in Matabeleland North’s Umguza, Bubi and Nkayi districts.
“The Melana programme has seen the construction of four state-of-the-art seed banks in Umzingwane, Umguza, Bubi and Nkayi,” said Mr Dhlakama.
Community seed banks are structures (specially constructed buildings) which offer farmers a chance to conserve their seeds at community level.
Unlike in gene banks, the seeds are frequently exposed to changing environmental conditions by taking out samples for germination tests and regenerating those seeds with low germination percentages. The Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the Food and Agriculture Organisation indicated that many plant genetic resources which may be vital for future agricultural development as well as food security are threatened by possible extinction because of the vigorous promotion and growing of hybrid seeds.
He said the official opening of Dula community seed bank this week would coincide with a seed fair.
“We will convene a seed, food fair in Umzingwane, Matabeleland South Province to showcase crop diversity that is in the hands of the small holder farmer. Invited guests will witness the official opening of the Dula community seed bank as well as demonstrations of how community seed banking is being used to enhance resilience of smallholder farmers in the face of a changing climate and a weak food and nutrition security system,” said Mr Dhlakama.
He said there was a need to conserve indigenous varieties due to their adaptive nature to the climatic condition.
“Through the Melana we have realised the importance of a community seed bank to conserve indigenous local varieties that are genetically diverse and well adapted to the climatic conditions,” said Mr Dhlakama.
@chrispen_gee
