Mercy Shibeleki sharing about the different practices at her farm in Shibuyunji district
In March, CTDT hosted a learning visit for the Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI) Community of Practitioners (CoP) in Zambia. The SKI CoP is a regional platform where seed and agroecology practitioners come together to share experiences, co-create knowledge, and advocate for farmer-led seed and food systems in Southern Africa.
Themed “Farmers’ Rights in Practice, Sharing Lessons in Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB), Local Plants Linked to Nutrition, and Farmer Field Schools,” the visit brought together practitioners, researchers and farmers from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Kenya. Two communities of Chirundu and Shibuyunji served as learning sites for the CoP.
One of the key takeaways from the visit was the critical role of women in safeguarding and regenerating agricultural biodiversity. “Women are central to bringing back diversity. Agroecology works when women lead,” was a powerful message that echoed throughout the field tours and discussions.
In Chirundu, participants visited a Participatory Variety Development (PVD) multiplication plot, where farmers have been working with researchers to improve sorghum varieties suited to local conditions. During the field tour, Asimbuyu Mwangala, a research officer from the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), commended the farmers' efforts in developing a promising sorghum variety.
“It is good that the developed variety by the farmers farm much better in terms of yields and maturity than what is already on the market,” she said. “ZVS 251 will be the highest yielding sorghum variety in Zambia once released. That’s why we want it to be spread to other farmers, not just in this region but across the country.”
However, Mrs. Mwangala noted a significant barrier. Zambia does not yet have a system that allows farmers to release varieties through the Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI). “It’s unfortunate that Zambia doesn’t yet have a facility for farmers to release a variety officially. That’s why ZARI has taken the step to help them,” she explained.
“The farmers selected seven materials; we will help them release one by one. This year we are releasing one, and it will be named Siabusu if approved by SCCI, a name suggested by the farmers themselves,” She added.
Diversifying for Food and Nutrition Security , Climate Resilience and Incomes- Mercy’s Story
In Shibuyunji, the group met Mercy Shibeleki, a small-scale farmer shared her agroecological journey. “This past farming season, I planted 18 crops and 37 varieties,” Mercy said. “With climate change, I don’t want to risk everything on one crop. If one fails, another may survive. Each crop has its benefits ranging from food, medicinal benefits and as income source.”
Mrs. Mercy sourced some her seeds from seed fairs, agriculture shows, and farmer exchange visits supported by CTDT. “Seed is life to me,” she affirmed. With the income she earns, she educates her children, supports orphans in her extended family, and hires local labor for her farm.
She however raised a critical concern: “The biggest challenge is that farmer-saved seeds are not recognized as seed by law ; they are treated as grain. That needs to change.”
The visit served not only to showcase successes but also to underline the urgent need for inclusive seed policy reforms that support smallholder farmers and their innovations.
Comments