Zimbabwe’s high hopes for small grains
Saturday, 06 November 2010 18:46
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) launched a project in
Zimbabwe recently to promote the use of small grains such as millet and
sorghum to boost food security in three drought-prone provinces —
Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Masvingo.
Small grains are considered drought tolerant and have better nutritional
value than maize, which is viewed as an unsuitable crop in these provinces.
The US$399 000 project — Promoting Production, Processing and Marketing of
Small Grains in the Marginal Areas in Zimbabwe — which envisages the
provision of improved seed varieties, will target small farmers, and aims to
be up and running by the rainy season that is just starting.
It will provide small grain inputs sufficient for the cultivation of half a
hectare, and this will also enable farmers to produce seeds for the next
planting season.
Gaoju Han, FAO’s sub-regional director for Southern Africa and Zimbabwe’s
country representative, said: “The project will also build the capacity of
community-based smallholder seed producers so as to ensure sustainable
availability of high quality small grains seed.” — Irin