BULAWAYO The government should expedite the importation of small grains as a stopgap measure of ensuring food security since the meteorological department has predicted below average rainfall this farming season. (Pictured: Farmers are encouraged to grow grain such as millet as it is drought resistant.)Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) second vice president, Berean Mukwende, said 80 per cent of the countrys farmers were located in areas with low rainfall thus the need to encourage farmers to venture into the production of small grains such as sorghum, millet and rapoko, which are drought tolerant. Small grains are drought tolerant as opposed to maize and other crops. By planting small grains farmers will be assured of harvesting something, he said.
He encouraged farmers to grow Open Pollinated Varieties whose seed can be retained for future years, as opposed to hybrid seed. Mukwende said the demand for small grains was likely to be high this year given the projected rainfall pattern. Seed for small grains are likely to be inadequate even though seed companies have promised to import, he said.
Over the years farmers have failed to harvest after their yields were destroyed by quelea birds as the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (Agritex) departments failed to effectively control the birds.