Sorghum productivity is low mainly due to reliance on retained seed from low yielding local varieties. However sorghum is resilient in semi-arid regions than maize. Developing a resilient sorghum seed multiplication system is crucial for improving access to quality seed. Area under sorghum is expanding, but productivity is low and exhibits a downward trend.

1. Building Resilient Sorghum Seed Systems in Semi-Arid
Areas of Zimbabwe through Partnerships
Thabani Dube1, Martin Moyo1, Conrad Murendo1, Kizito Mazvimavi1 and Moses Siambi2
Background
• Sorghum productivity is low mainly due to
reliance on retained seed from low yielding local
varieties.
• However sorghum is resilient in semi-arid
regions than maize.
• Developing a resilient sorghum seed
multiplication system is crucial for improving
access to quality seed.
Problem Statement
• Failure to access quality sorghum seed, poses a
threat to the livelihood of smallholder farmers.
• Widespread sorghum seed shortages experienced in
2015/16 season, Figure 2.
• Is there scope to increase seed access through
offseason production?
Figure 3: Off-season seed production, Lungwalala Irrigation Scheme,
Binga district
Outputs
• A total of 13,500kg of quality declared seed was produced at a rate of
2000kgs/ha.
• Seed distributed locally and in the region (Malawi and Tanzania)
• Increased farm income. Average gross margin /ha of $1,153 and a
return on investment of 1.36, Table 1.
Intervention
• ICRISAT, working in partnership with SNV,CAFOD, Public
Extension (AGRITEX) and smallholder farmers ventured
into multiplication of high quality seed to address seed
shortages.
• Seed production was carried out by 25 farmers, on
5.4ha, at Lungwalala irrigation scheme located in the
semi-arid are of Binga District, Figure 3.
Figure 4: Pathway from seed multiplication to grain production
• Breakeven analysis showed that the enterprise would remain
profitable up to more than 55% decline in current yield and
price., Table 2.
Success factors
• Transparency in the roles and responsibilities of
actors, regular extension contact and local
leadership support, were identified by most as
having had strongest influence on success of the
project. Figure 5.
Opportunities
• Scope to increase off-season production exist due
to availability of irrigable land and willingness of
farmers to participate.
• Public-Private Partnerships to strengthen the
seed production.
Threats
• Pests and diseases, particularly quelea birds.
• Shortage of labour.
Conclusion
• Off-season seed production enhances access to good
quality seeds.
• Smallholder farmers have capacity to produce
quality sorghum seed
• Offseason seed production increased farmers
income
• Off-season seed production through irrigation
provides for a resilient systems to climate variability
• Investments in irrigation infrastructure crucial
• Farmer training on seed production to be
strengthened
References
1. AGRITEX Crop Production Statistics 1980-2014
2. http://www.fnc.org.zw/downloads/zimvac%20rep
orts/ZimVac%202016/zimvac%202016%20detaile
d%20report.pdf
Sorghum Trends
• Area under sorghum is expanding, but
productivity is low and exhibits a downward
trend, Figure 1.
Figure 1: Sorghum production trends, Source: AGRITEX, 2015
Figure 2: Small grain condition as of January 2016, Source:
ZIMVAC, 2016
• The partnership ensured seed multiplication and distribution
of seed for grain production in areas severely affected by
drought, Figure 4.
Table 1: Gross margin budget
Table 2: Breakeven analysis
Figure 5: Ranking of factors credited with success of the
initiative
1International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Zimbabwe
2International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Kenya
T.Dube@cgiar.org, M.Moyo@cgiar.org, C.Murendo@cgiar.org, K.Mazvimavi@cgiar.org, M.Siambi@cgiar.org
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
400000
450000
Yield(t/ha)
Area(ha)
Year
Area Yield Linear (Area) Linear (Yield)
Income Unit Price ($)/Unit Quantity/ha Income ($)/ha
Seed output kgs 1 2000 2,000.00
Gross Income (GI) 2,000.00
Unit Price ($)/Unit Quantity/ha Cost ($)/ha
Variable Costs (VC)
Tillage ha 82.00 1 82.00
Seed kgs 3.00 10 30.00
Fertilisers
Basal fertiliser 50kg 30.00 7 210.00
Top dressing fertiliser 50kg 34.00 5 170.00
Agro-chemicals
Carbaryl g 0.02 922 20.75
Lambda ml 0.02 922 17.70
Dimethoate ml 0.45 184 82.48
Labour
Hired Labour l/days 12.50 16 200.00
Harvesting
Packaging 50kg bags 0.50 40 20.00
Irrigation month 3.30 4 13.20
Total Variable Costs (TVC) 846.13
Gross Margin (GM) 1,153.87
GM per $ invested 1.36
Variable Yield (kgs/ha) Prices/kg
Achieved 2000 1
Breakeven 850 0.42
Margin of Safety 57.5% 58.00%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Responses
Very Strong Strong Average Weak
Acknowledgements
This work was done in partnership by the International
Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
(ICRISAT), Department of Agricultural, Technical and
Extension Services (AGRITEX), Department of Research
and Specialist Services (DR&SS), Integrated Food,
Nutrition and Incomes Security Program (FNI),
European Union, Netherlands Development
Organisation (SNV), CARITAS, CAFOD and farmers at
Lungwalala Irrigation Scheme in Kariyangwe, Binga
District.
Foundation
seed for
multiplication
• ICRISAT produced and provided macia foundation
seed to smallholder farmers under a contract
arrangement for seed multiplication.
• SNV/CAFOD/AGRITEX mobilised and built capacity of
farmers in farming as a business.
• Partners provided technical support on seed production
Quality
Declared Seed
Production
Distribution of
seed for grain
production
• Development agencies played role of off-takers and
distributors of quality seed affected smallholder farmers.
• Opportunities for emerging small-seed houses to
participate in the sorghum seed value chain.
April 2018