A NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Sisonke Working Together Trust, has hosted a seed fair in Bulilima district, Matabeleland South Province, to cushion farmers against soaring prices of inputs ahead of the rainy season.
Sisonke Working Together Trust director, Themba Maseko Phiri, whose organisation has been instrumental in empowering communal farmers to increase their small grains yields in the drought-prone areas, said the fair was held at Makhekhe Business Centre.
“Hundreds of farmers around Tjehanga, Nyele thronged Makhekhe Business Centre to trade and exchange seeds. As seed input prices soar, the seed fair cushions farmers from buying expensive seed and also retains the old gene pool of seed material,” he said.
Phiri said headman Lenny Khuphe and the ward 4 councillor Bangani Ndlovu presided over the occasion.
“Seed fairs are beating input price volatility, mitigating against the food crisis that arises as a result of drought,” he said.
Phiri said Sisonke was working hand in glove with Agritex in small grains production in the district.
“The major strategic goal of the programme is to work with farmers to promote drought-tolerant crops as an adaptation measure to climate change using the farmer-first approach,” he said.
Matabeleland South districts, such as Bulilima, Matobo, Gwanda and Beitbridge, are prone to drought.
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Agricultural experts have advised farmers to resort to small grains to beat the drought.
Sisonke Working Trust has been instrumental in empowering communal farmers to increase their small grains yields.
