World Vision’s red sorghum cropping programme praised

THE Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (Agritex) has praised World Vision’s red sorghum cropping programme in Umzingwane District which was introduced a few years ago to enhance food productivity in the Matabeleland South Province.

Umzingwane District Agritex extension officer Mr Thembelani Ncube said most of the farmers that benefited under the non-governmental organisation’s sorghum programme over the last three farming seasons managed to obtain optimum yields.

The programme which is funded by Australian Aid and implemented by World Vision under its Integrated Health and Livelihoods programme was conducted in Ward 13 during the 2013/14, Ward Six in 2014/15 and Ward Four in 2016/17 farming seasons with farmers being allocated red sorghum seed and 50 kilogrammes of Compound D and ammonium nitrate.

“We are in a drought prone area and sorghum is the most appropriate crop to grow because you are unlikely to have a low yield. It only requires 300 to 400 millilitres (ml) of seasonal rain to reach maturity instead of 500ml to 800ml which is required by maize. We are now encouraging farmers in this part of the country to crop small grains including sorghum.

“In actual fact, since time immemorial people in communal areas used to grow small grains but over the years most have been discouraged doing so due to its low yield per hectare. For instance one gets four tonnes per hectare of small grains while they are assured of 10 tonnes per hectare of maize. The other issue which makes a lot of people prefer to crop maize is that it can be readily consumed when ripe,” said Mr Ncube.

Farmers in the drought-prone province of Matabeleland South have for a long time been advised to grow small grains such as millet and sorghum as they are suitable for their areas and can resist drought.

However, most farmers continue to plant more maize despite repeated incidents of failure as the crop requires more rains. At least 100 farmers cropped red sorghum in Ward Four in the 2016/17 season under the World Vision programme.

Mr Ncube said Agritex was assisting the farmers in seeking a viable market for their red sorghum produce.

“We are still brainstorming on the best possible market for the farmers to sell their produce to. If you realise grain in the region is much cheaper than in Zimbabwe with neighbouring countries selling at an average of about $170 a tonne while here the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) buys at $390 per tonne but farmers are sceptical if it has the capacity to make prompt payments. There are also brewery companies that offer around $250 thus the issue of market forces is at play,” he said.

The uncertainty of a viable market for their red sorghum is also a cause for concern to the Sibanda family of Kuthuleni Village in Mzinyathini area’s Umzingwane District Ward Four. Mr Samson Sibanda and his wife Sipho were selected the best red sorghum growers for the 2016/17 season under World Vision’s programme.

“We are very excited that we managed to get a good harvest but our major worry is finding a buyer for our produce and we aren’t aware of the price of red sorghum on the market,” said Mrs Sibanda.

Isitshwala is the staple food for Zimbabwe and is derived from maize, rapoko, millet or sorghum mealie-meal.

Given the declining maize yields due to low rainfall experienced in the past few years, small grains have become a healthy source of starch.

The Government has recommended growing of small grains as they are resistant to drought and do well even in areas that receive minimal rainfall. The Sibanda family managed to obtain two tonnes from half-a-hectare of red sorghum, which was planted in December last year.

For their effort, Agritex recommended the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund through its Matabeleland Enhanced Livelihood Agriculture and Nutrition Adaption to construct a modern granary at their homestead.

The modern post-harvest handling granary has three compartments and has a holding capacity of 3,2 tonnes of grain.