Zimbabwe: Wedza Farmers Receive Wrong Seed for Drought
Agriculture authorities have against their own advice, set small-scale maize growers in Wedza firmly on the path to hunger following the distribution of seed that has a potentially high risk of failure under current drought conditions.
In short, farmers have received the wrong seed for a drought year from those in the know, those that have been at the fore-front promoting early maturing varieties and drought-tolerant small grains, as key tools for coping with changing climates.
Government has over the years provided free inputs to smallholder grain farmers, efforts aimed at boosting household and national food production, but results have been less pleasing due to several factors, including climate change.
Richard Thomas