Ncreased Sorghum(Sorghumbicolor, L)Productivity: Unlocking its potential for food crisis mitigation for small holder communal farmers in the Semi-Arid regions: A case of the ZambeziValley Region in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper analyses current and projected trends of sorghum production in Mbire as influenced by the ZRBF programme from 2016 to 2020. Average cereal production in this district has been dominated by maize 56.01% with sorghum accounting for 43.99 % since 2015. Between 2014 and 2017 trends in area, production and yield of sorghum were negative but were positive from 2018 to 2020. Mean yield was 0.29 t/ha with upper and lower limits of 0.41 t/ha and 0.10 t/ha respectively. Trends in area planted under maize and sorghum in the district showed a gradual increase for sorghum from 7000ha in 2015 to approximately 12000 ha in 2020 and an inverse trend for maize from approximately 12000 ha to 7000 ha for the same period. Rainfall varied during these years with a mean of 702.3mm per year which was slightly above normal for the region. Sorghum was primarily used for food (62 %) whilst 28% was used for food processing with just 10% for animal feed and non- food uses. Trading of sorghum attached USD value over the years ranged between USD 240 to 290 per MT as officially communicated by GMB and Delta Beverages. There was a general positive trend in area planted under sorghum with corresponding increase in production indicating farmers’ adoption of sorghum production. Increasing production of sorghum by 41.5% from the baseline scenario is forecasted by 2025. These results suggest that in future, sorghum will play an increasingly important role in food security of these communities.