Community seed banks boost regional food security

WIDOWS are generally considered disadvantaged, especially in African communities.

Their situation is even regarded as being desperate when they have many dependants.

However, Loveness Khumalo (64) appears to have discovered the key to success.

Even though she is widowed, the eight children under her care have never gone for a single day without food. Her household is food-secure.

Living in Zimbabwe’s Umzingwane district, Matabeleland South province, which is arid, presents its own challenges, especially as the impact of climate change becomes pervasive.

Therefore, the community in the district, Khumalo included, initially survived on donor handouts.

Their seasonal crops, which were largely rain-fed, usually yielded low harvests in good seasons and nothing at all in bad seasons.

And this is a familiar story in some communities in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

However, to mitigate the effects of climate change and promote food security, Government, in partnership with various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), joined hands to encourage the propagation of traditional grains — millet, cowpeas, sorghum and many others.

These seeds are drought-resistant and tend to be economic since they require few to no inputs.

This has led to the establishment of community seed banks (CSBs) in most provinces.

These act as backup storage for the seeds that were at the brink of extinction after people switched to hybrid seeds.

CSBs have since changed the lives of local communities for the better, as they provide a buffer against the vagaries of climate change.

“Through the use of CSBs and adoption of traditional grains, my life has been transformed,” said Khumalo.

“Using proceeds from the sale of my produce, I managed to build two four-roomed houses and even sent my children to school.”

In Umzingwane alone, over 100 smallholder farmers are benefiting from the initiative.

Such successes are being replicated in other communities as well.

Mr Patrick Mutepeya, a lead farmer from the Chimukoko Community Seed Bank in Mudzi district, Mashonaland East province, said he has managed to buy livestock, build a seven-roomed house and pay lobola using cash generated from the programme.

According to Lizzy Gonye, a village head in Domboshava, which is also in Mashonaland East province, said seeds stored in these banks last longer compared to those kept in poor-quality containers at home.

“Above all, the seeds are not genetically modified, meaning they are nutritious and are not hazardous if consumed,” she said.

To promote accelerated propagation of traditional seeds, the Government of Zimbabwe has implemented a swap programme through seed fairs, where farmers meet and have an opportunity to exchange seeds of their choice.

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