Story by Providence Maraneli
FARMERS in Crystal Springs, Gwanda, have lauded research institutions and seed houses for introducing seed varieties that deter qualia birds, thereby improving the uptake of traditional grains production in the district.
In Crystal Springs, an area in the Peripheries of Gwanda District, there is a growing sense of conviction and belief in traditional grains by local farmers, making the area food secure.
One such farmer is Mr Misheck Sibanda who is boasting of more than 10 hectares of diverse varieties of traditional grains.
What stands out in this massive cereal crop is the seven-hectare smile sorghum variety that does not attract the devouring qualia birds.
Sibanda says the introduction of this variety has improved the uptake of traditional grain farming in the area, as no losses are incurred in the production process.
“Unlike other seed varieties, this one does not attract qualia birds, we have seven hectares of it and we are looking forward to a bumper harvest. If you compare with other varieties we spend most of our time scaring them away. I am confident that I am going to send quite a number of tones to GMB,” he said.
Farmers expressed optimism and enthusiasm about growing traditional grains, citing promising harvests and the crops’ suitability to the local climate.
“With this variety, we are assured of a bumper harvest,” a farmer said.
“I have learnt a lot from this plot, and I think we all need to adopt the growth of the traditional grain because they thrive in this part of the country,” another farmer added.
With climate change having made the growing of long-term seed varieties like maize unpredictable, there is a consensus among agriculture experts that the adoption of traditional grains will be key in fighting food insecurities in communities.
“We have seen what those who adopted the traditional grains farming are able to achieve and if all of us follow this road, we can achieve vision 2030,” Matabeleland South Acting Deputy Director of Agritex, Mr Bhekilizwe Ncube said.
“As you all know Matabeleland South is in region five long varieties do not thrive we need to adopt small grains. What impressed me more is that farmers are adopting varieties that deter qualia birds which have always been a challenge in farms. This should be the message across the province,” Provincial Agro-economist, Mr Khumbulani Vembe said.
The government has invested in a cocktail of measures to fight climate change, with the climate-proof Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme and irrigation development enabling the country to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
