Traditional Grains: A Path to Sensible and Relevant Food Security

Zimbabwe and many parts of Southern Africa have long relied on maize as the staple crop. However, the increasing climate variability even in good rainfall years like 2025 and the 2024 El Niño-induced drought have exposed maize’s vulnerabilities. Traditional grains such as finger millet, sorghum, and pearl millet are proving to be more resilient and sustainable, both nutritionally and environmentally. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has emphasized the importance of diversifying staple crops to improve food and nutrition security across the region. This piece shares the growing urgency around transitioning from maize to traditional grains such as finger millet, sorghum, and pearl millet, particularly in the context of arid Zimbabwe and broader Southern Africa.

The Impact of the 2024 El Niño on Zimbabwe and Southern Africa

The past year (2023/2024 season) has been devastating for the agricultural sector. The prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall patterns associated with El Niño led to a distinct contraction to the agricultural sector, with;

• 6 million Zimbabweans facing food insecurity during the 2024–2025 lean season.
• Over 9,000 livestock deaths across the region (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia)due to severe drought conditions.
• Southern Africa recording its worst hunger crisis in 4 decades, affecting millions of people.

This year’s growing season was full of promise and great rains, but in the harsher regions like ours in Western Zimbabwe, the rains still had long dry spells and went away too early causing a huge failure in the maize crop plants.

These unfortunate events reinforce the need for food system transformation. Relying solely on maize has left millions vulnerable to weather shocks. Embracing traditional grains offers a sustainable and relevant path forward.

Why Traditional Grains? Insights from Walter Mugove Nyika

My friend and colleague, Walter Mugove Nyika, has extensively studied, worked  and experienced the differences between maize and traditional grains (especially finger millet). Below are key insights from his write-up “Finger Millet and Maize – My Experience” that he also shared with our colleagues on the African agroecology network:

Issue Finger Millet (Rapoko) Maize Nutrition Higher nutritional value: rich in protein, fiber, minerals, and antioxidants. Supports digestion, heart health, and weight management. Lower nutritional value, often consumed as refined meal, contributing to malnutrition and stunting. Input Requirements Requires less water and nutrients, fitting well with low-external-input farming. Requires high water and nutrient input, promoting industrial agriculture. Seed Storage Stores well for long periods without preservatives and protects other seeds from pests. Vulnerable to grain borers and requires preservatives. Labor Can be planted using different methods with minimal mechanization. More dependent on mechanization, which is out of reach for many smallholder farmers. Impact on Soil Light feeder, does not deplete soil rapidly. Can be sustained with compost. Heavy feeder, depletes soil quickly, often grown in monocultures dependent on chemical fertilizers. Drought Tolerance Highly drought-resistant, making it ideal in changing climate conditions. Yields drop drastically in drought conditions, as seen in 2023/24. Above-Normal Rainfall More resilient to excess rainfall. Thrives in high-rainfall areas. Suffers yield losses in excessive rainfall. Pests and Diseases Minimal pest and disease issues over decades of observation. Prone to stalk borer, grain weevils, and armyworms. Adaptation to Local Conditions Indigenous to Africa, naturally adapted to local ecosystems. Introduced from the Americas, less adapted to African conditions. Economic Value Fetches a higher price per kg than maize, supporting local economies. Used in more industrial processes but benefits large corporations more than small farmers. Cultural Significance Central to African traditional rituals and celebrations. Less cultural significance compared to indigenous grains. Environmental Impact Lower carbon footprint, contributing to sustainable agriculture. High carbon footprint, contributing to climate change. Political Support Lacks political backing despite benefits. Politically favored due to its economic influence in industrial agriculture.

My Field Observations: Mixed Cropping for Resilience

I work with communities in the arid Hwange communal lands, in western Zimbabwe. We have observed that mixing plants presents an opportunity for farmers to still have a shot at a good harvest. Maize crops are proving to be a difficult ally for farmers as they demand a lot of water, intensive inputs, and are always attacked by pests like the stalk borer.

On the other hand, pearl millet, sorghum, peanuts and cowpeas are proving to be better yielding as they are more resilient to the climate and harsh conditions. By integrating these crops, farmers can diversify their yields, reduce risk, and ensure a more stable food supply despite unpredictable weather patterns.

Our communal program supports farmers transition from degenerative agriculture to one of improving landscape, seed, food and nutrition systems through trainings and ecologically sound farming. In my experience pearl millet and sorghum are proving are the  2 grains thriving in Hwange communal lands due to their adaptability to harsh conditions.

These grains thrive in Hwange’s harsh conditions due to their drought resistance, requiring minimal water; their ability to grow in nutrient-poor soils where maize struggles without heavy fertilization; their high heat tolerance, allowing them to withstand extreme temperatures; their natural resistance to pests and diseases, unlike maize, which is frequently attacked by stalk borers and other infestations; their nutritional superiority, being rich in essential minerals like calcium, iron, and fiber; and their long storage life, enabling them to be preserved for extended periods without significant loss of quality, making them a reliable buffer against food and nutrition insecurity.

Moving Forward: Food System Transformation

Several organizations have been advocating for seed and food system transformation in Zimbabwe and across Africa. Their efforts have been instrumental in promoting traditional grains and agroecological practices.

The 2024 El Niño crisis has underscored the urgent need to move away from relying on maize as the primary staple. Millets and other traditional grains provide a more resilient alternative that aligns with the region’s climatic realities and food security needs.

Across the region, networks are working tirelessly to influence policy by prioritizing research and development on traditional grains, supporting farmer-led initiatives, launching public awareness campaigns on their nutritional benefits, and strengthening value chains for local and regional markets.

It’s time to revive traditional grains and build a food system that’s resilient, nutritious, and deeply rooted in our heritage—for our people and our planet.

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