HARARE — Smallholder farmers and stakeholders have called for greater support for farmer-managed seed systems and agro-ecological practices, as Zimbabwe and the wider southern African region brace for a Super El Niño event and an ongoing climate crisis.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe National Good Seed and Food Festival, Theophilus Mudzindiko, Programmes Coordinator for the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Zimbabwe, said the event is hinged on farmers' rights to save, share, exchange, and trade their farm-saved seed.
"These are rights that are enshrined in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas," Mudzindiko said.
He said the festival promotes farmer-managed seed systems, traditional foods, and food sovereignty.
Call to support smallholder farmers
"Our call today is for all stakeholders to come together to support smallholder farmers as they champion agro-ecology," Mudzindiko said.
He noted that Zimbabwe and parts of the southern region are facing a Super El Niño event and an ongoing climate crisis.
"Government itself, the Zimbabwean government, is promoting what they call a six-pillar summer plan, which also is promoting traditional grains, which ties very strongly to this event," he said.
Mudzindiko said the festival is helping to strengthen and build resilience for smallholder farmers and the nation at large, as the country grapples with climate change, nutrition security, income security, sustainability, livelihoods, and food sovereignty.
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