GWERU — Agriculture and Mechanisation minister Joseph Made has urged farmers in low rainfall areas such as the Midlands to diversify into growing small grains to guard against climate change-induced food shortages.
In a speech read of his behalf by Zanu PF national spokesperson Rugare Gumbo at a field day held at former Midlands governor Cephas Msipa’s farm in Gweru last Friday, Made said the decline in funding for agricultural activities and erratic rainfall patterns had negatively impacted on the country’s food security.
“Over the years food security and income for many farmers in Gweru district have declined significantly,” said Made.
He also cited high prices for key inputs and declining soil fertility as other threats to high yields in the region. Made challenged farmers in the region to shift from maize, the country’s main staple food, to small grains such as sorghum, rapoko and millet.
“A shift to the production of small grains is one of the underlying crop management problems facing farmers in the region. There is need to stress the importance for farmers in the province to grow small grains with the assistance of government, NGOs and other stakeholders. Farmers should understand how small grains fit into the household food cycle,” said Made.
The field day was in honour of Msipa, whose 35 hectares of sorghum was adjudged the best in the province. Msipa said he had entered into a contract farming agreement with Delta Beverages.
