In Chipinge, southeastern Zimbabwe, nearly 1,000 smallholder farmers are reviving drought-resistant traditional crops through a community seed bank aimed at strengthening food security and climate resilience. In recent years, shifting rainfall patterns have forced planting dates later each year, threatening harvests. Funded by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the Global Environment Facility, the project preserves indigenous crops like sorghum, millet, and cowpeas that are often better suited to local conditions than commercial hybrids. These traditional varieties require less water and can survive erratic rainfall, an increasing problem in the region. By reducing dependence on commercial seed systems and safeguarding locally adapted crops, the project enables farmers to recover more quickly from disasters while improving household food supplies.
RFI