Svoboda steals the limelight at Bikita Seed and Food Festival

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

BIKITA: A rare and unique variety of millet, known as “Svoboda” (Barnyard Millet) was the star of the Bikita Seed and Food Fair. The event took place on August 22 at Kumboedza Garden in Ward 19 of Bikita East, Zimbabwe courtesy of Earthlore Foundation. This particular small grain is found exclusively in the Bikita area.

According to Mr Method Gundidza of the Earthlore Foundation, the Barnyard Millet was nearly lost before a local program helped bring it back.

“We talked about that variety of millet in August, 2016 and it was nowhere to be found. There came an old woman who remembered it and wasn’t sure if she still had the seed in her granary. She later brought it to us and that was the starting point of its revival. Unfortunately, she passed on six months later. She left us a very vital heritage,” he said.

The fair featured 278 exhibitors from garden projects across Bikita, including Mabheka of Mamutse, Dende of Chirorwe, Kumboedza of Masasire, Chirambaguyo of Mutsinzwa, Chamas of Gangare and Maitazano of Nebarwe.

The fair aimed at promoting organic farming and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers through ecological land management. It also supported efforts by local farmers to revive, multiply, and preserve traditional seeds, especially during the “Year of the Millets,” as declared by the UN FAO.

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Another key goal was to help communities protect wild biodiversity and Sacred Natural Sites using knowledge passed down through generations.

More than 400 people attended, including Chief Masasire, delegates from South Africa and funders, Oak Foundation Zimbabwe.

Entertainment was provided by Mandadzaka Primary School. Also in attendance were representatives from ZIMSOFF, Zivakwakabva, Agritex, PORETO and the office of Bikita East MP Zevezai.