After months of hard work, learning, and dedication, the group has just celebrated their first harvest of groundnuts!
These young farmers are not just growing crops — they are planting seeds of hope, resilience, and self-sufficiency for their community.
Their journey shows that with knowledge, teamwork, and a little bit of patience, great things can grow.
Congratulations to the team — this is only the beginning!
The Chikukwa Seed group is dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculuture practices in their community .Through their demo plots,they demostrate the importance of crop rotation ,soil conservation ,and seed preservation.
The Seed Banking Process
1. Ploughing and Planting : The group preapares the soil and plants various types of grains,carefully selecting the best varities for their climate and soil conditions.
2. Harvesting : After the crops mature ,the group harvests the grains ,ensuring that they are properly dried and stored.
3. Seed Selection: Fromthe harvested grains, the group selects high quality seeds for their seed bank.These seeds are chosen for their vigor, diesease resistance and adaptability to local conditions.
4. Seed Storage : The selected seeds are then stored in tightly sealed bottles , protecting them from pests, moisture, and other environmental factors that could comproise their vialiblity.
WHY SEED BANKING
1. Food Security: By preserving high quality seeds ,the group ensures a staedy supply of nutritious food for their community.
2. Crop Diversity:The seed bank promotes crop diversity , allowing the group to plant a variety of grains and reducing their reliance on single crop.The group also exchange with other communities their Ndau Seeds .
3.Climate Resilience: By storing seeds that are adopted to loval conditions, the group can better withstand climatestand climate-related shocks and stresses.
4. Community Empowerment:The seed bank empowers the community to take control of theirfood systmes,promoting self-sufficiency and sustainability.
By preserving their agricultural heritage through seed banking ,the Chikukwa Seed Group is helping to ensure a brighter future for the community.