Spotlight on Pearl Millet Project in Zimbabwe
In this issue, we focus on Zimbabwe, where Grow Further donors are funding a biofortification initiative by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and HarvestPlus. Our first article features Principal? Investigator Dr. Ojulong,?who shares his personal story–what inspired him to become a crop scientist, the challenges he’s tackling, and how Grow Further’s grant is accelerating his team’s mission to develop drought-resistant, iron-rich pearl millet for?arid-region farmers.
The second report explores agriculture in Zimbabwe. Despite past challenges and climate change, smallholder farmers are finding new hope in biofortification and other innovations.
While agricultural advancements like biofortification offer hope, broader concerns about food security persist, especially in the face of shifting government support.?We empathize with our food security allies and the people they serve who are dealing with an uncertain future for government-supported food and agricultural development aid. The fight against hunger and malnutrition?requires collective action, and their work remains more vital than ever.
Yours in a Food-Secure Future,
Peter Kelly, Founder, Grow Further
Millet project lead in Zimbabwe: Dr. Henry Ojulong?
Regular readers of this newsletter likely know who Dr. Henry Fred Ojulong is. What they probably don’t know is why he became involved in food security. So, we recently connected with him to find out what led him in that career direction.
For those that don’t know, Dr. Ojulong is a Senior Scientist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and is leading our Pearl Millet project in Zimbabwe.
Through this innovative project, ICRISAT and their partners at HarvestPlus hope to spur the widespread adoption of iron-fortified pearl millet at smallholder farms throughout Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Struggles to Build a More Food-Secure Future
The Sub-Saharan African nation of Zimbabwe is known for its tumultuous history, especially in farming and agriculture. The nation is now emerging from these past upheavals, but Zimbabwe’s farmers still have a daunting future ahead of them as climate change worsens.
Grow Further is now partnering with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and HarvestPlus on developing a climate-resilient, iron-rich variety of pearl millet that Zimbabwe’s farmers can use to grow more food, better survive droughts and dry spells, and enhance national health and nutrition. Below, we share with you some facts underlining why this work is so important for Zimbabwe and how Grow Further intends to help thanks to our generous donor members and sponsors.
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