Farmers in Goromonzi, a rural district located 50 kilometres east of Harare, are turning back to indigenous seeds and traditional foods as a way to tackle climate change and improve food security.
The sixth edition of the Traditional Seed and Food Festival, organised by Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre (FPC) in partnership with Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Zimbabwe, set out to revive traditional African foods and seeds, while encouraging local farming practices as a response to mounting climate challenges.
Under the theme “Nurturing Our Future, Reviving Our Heritage,” the festival encourages sustainable farming techniques and a shift away from dependence on industrial farming practices.
Jerry Kudakwashe, FPC Community Team Leader, said the festival is part of a broader effort to promote agroecology, protect biodiversity, and combat climate change.
“We have been basing our operations on promoting agroecology, and we believe there is a strong link between seeds, food, and the environment.”
“By promoting agroecology, we are serving the planet by helping to mitigate climate change and ensuring that farmers can adapt to the current climate crisis,” he said.
Through agroecology, Fambidzanai’s work focuses on addressing poverty and food insecurity using sustainable agricultural practices that rely on locally available resources.
“Much of our work focuses on addressing poverty and food insecurity through sustainable practices. We prioritize using locally available resources and avoid external inputs for several reasons, including concerns around health.”
Industrial agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa is causing widespread environmental damage. About 65% of farmland is degraded, costing the region over US $68 billion a year and reducing productivity. Heavy use of pesticides and herbicides is harming both soil health and biodiversity.
“We have seen the harmful effects of pesticides and herbicides, not only on human health but also on the environment and other species within ecosystems. We are promoting alternatives that require minimal external financial input, as long as one is adequately prepared,” Kudakwashe added.
“In the context of climate change, Kudakwashe explains that traditional open-pollinated and heritage seeds demonstrate strong resilience to the increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns caused by climate change.
“Where rainfall is increasingly erratic and unreliable, we have found that most of our open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) and heritage seeds are resilient and can withstand harsh conditions,” he said.
Grace Murwisi, a small grain farmer, says the small seeds they are growing, particularly small grains, are proving vital in the face of climate change. Even with low rainfall, these resilient crops can still yield food, helping communities survive and maintain food security in tough conditions.
“The small seeds that we are growing, especially small grains, are resilient and can withstand the effects of climate change. Even when rainfall is low, people can still survive because these crops continue to produce food, helping to ensure food security in difficult conditions,” she said.
FPC Principal Director Lewis Mashingaidze, believes that promoting indigenous food practices is essential for encouraging people to consume foods that reflect their African heritage.
“What we are trying to achieve is to encourage our people to embrace their traditional seeds and consume food that is truly African. What we call our traditional food is, in fact, our own. Although we label it as ‘traditional,’ we are simply referring to our food.”
He said many people have moved toward Western diets, but the food festival and seed displays are helping to restore indigenous knowledge systems that reflect on African culture.
“The challenge we face is that many of our people have been diverted from their original diets toward food from the West. So, we are working to restore that connection by hosting food festivals where people can see what other farmers are growing and consuming.”
Akunata Mavheni, a local farmer and exhibitor at the festival, says the programme is playing a key role in reviving traditional dietary practices and passing them on to the younger generation, a move she believes will encourage healthier eating and longer lives.
“This program is good for reviving our old traditions, which promote a healthy and balanced diet. This generation no longer knows these practices, but as the older generation, we are trying to bring them back so that the younger generation understands their benefits and we can all live longer, healthier lives.”
The food and seed festival attracted more than 2,000 visitors eager to see what farmers are producing and eating, with over 100 seed varieties on display. Compared to last year, there was a noticeable increase in seed diversity.
The event saw a mix of older and younger generations participating in food tasting, signalling a growing interest among young people in traditional crops. Their engagement is seen as a hopeful sign for the future of sustainable agriculture.
