Zimbabwe: Attitudes Hamper Uptake of Small Grains

28 November 2016

Negative attitude still remains one of the biggest barrier to the adoption of small grains in drought-prone parts of the country, agricultural experts say. Speaking at a public lecture at the University of Zimbabwe to mark World Food Day, experts said despite an aggressive campaign by the Government encouraging smallholder farmers to diversify or completely adopt small grains which can cope under dry weather conditions, farmers still plant maize which is not suitable to these conditions.

"It's in the mindset and our behaviour," says Eddie Rowe, country director of the World Food Programme in Zimbabwe. "It all lies in the mindset. For many of our people, if you have not eaten sadza, you have not eaten anything."

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.