The ManicaPost
Emmah Chinyamutangira Post Correspondent
There is need to set up seed banks for small scale farmers who depend on seed recycling in order to preserve local breed of varieties, Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) board chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza has said.
After undertaking a crop assessment in some parts of Chipinge and Chimanimani recently, Mr Nyabadza said he saw the effects of drought calling for the need to set up seed banks.
“Our crops and livestock are at critical condition due to Cyclone Idai. We, however, saw the effects of drought. Our small scale farmers relied on recycled seeds for the past seven years. In other words, they did not access enough commercial seeds and are in a critical condition unless we mobilise resources for provision of seeds in post cyclone period.
“We are in the recovery phase and we must feed our people who have lost crops and seed. Seed is a priority especially sugar bean, groundnut and other seeds that return value at village level where nutrition is needed,” he said.
The Arda chairman said he visited some parts of Chipinge and Chimanimani, which were affected by Cyclone Idai to get first hand information so that he would advise his principals and other agriculture experts to use the information to come up with strategic ways of improving agricultural activities in those areas.
“I am very pleased that the Minister of Agriculture was here. I feel that we can only cross pollinate ideas for the good in agriculture which is the backbone of our economy by working together as a country.
“Climate has change, we have not yet reacted in a most dramatic manner as Africans. We need to take positions to prepare ourselves,” he said.
Mr Nyabadza added that there was need of experts in weather and climate predictions so that farmers do not waste resources on inputs during unpredictable climate change seasons.
