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.
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