For decades, modern agriculture has been celebrated as a breakthrough that lifted millions out of hunger and enabled nations to build more resilient food systems. Yet today, that progress is under threat.
Rising food and nutrition insecurity, coupled with a surge in diet-related non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, paint a grim picture of the state of our food systems.
Global dependence on a narrow range of crops — chiefly maize, rice, and wheat — has created what scientists describe as “green deserts,” monoculture landscapes that may fill stomachs but fail to nourish populations.
For Zimbabwe, a country heavily reliant on maize as both a staple and cultural identity, the time has come to rethink its agricultural future by embracing neglected and underutilised species (NUS).
While maize has historically served as the backbone of Zimbabwe’s food security, its dominance has also created vulnerabilities.
Climate change, with its increasingly erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts, has made maize production highly unstable.
The 2019/2020 farming season, for example, saw devastating maize harvests due to drought, forcing the country to import grain to avert starvation. This overreliance highlights the fragility of monoculture systems.
Neglected and underutilised crops, often referred to as “orphan crops,” hold promise as an alternative.
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These include small grains like finger millet, pearl millet, and sorghum; indigenous tubers such as madhumbe (taro) and tsenza (African groundnut); and traditional leafy vegetables like mowa (amaranth), nyevhe (Cleome gynandra), and derere (okra).
What unites them is their resilience: they thrive in harsh environments, require fewer external inputs like fertilisers and pesticides, and provide superior nutritional value compared to maize.
From a nutritional standpoint, NUS are often richer in vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
Finger millet, for instance, is high in calcium and iron, making it essential in combating malnutrition and anemia among children and women.
Traditional vegetables are loaded with micronutrients that boost immunity, a critical asset in a country battling both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Encouragingly, Zimbabwe has already taken steps to reintroduce and promote these underutilissed crops.
The government and development partners have been running campaigns to encourage farmers to grow small grains in drought-prone regions, especially in the southern and western provinces where maize yields are consistently poor.
Institutions such as the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF), supported by the United Nations and the European Union, have actively promoted small-grain cultivation as a climate adaptation strategy.
At the policy level, Zimbabwe’s agricultural strategies now recognize the importance of crop diversification.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministryhas been working with local seed companies and research institutions like the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to produce improved seed varieties for crops such as sorghum, pearl millet, and cowpeas.
These varieties are not only higher yielding but also more resistant to pests and diseases, giving farmers a better chance of securing harvests under unpredictable conditions.
Community-based seed banks have also emerged as innovative mechanisms for conserving indigenous seeds and ensuring farmers’ access to them.
Such initiatives keep local knowledge alive, while reducing dependence on expensive hybrid seeds that often fail in low-rainfall areas.
For Zimbabweans, the shift toward neglected and underutilized crops is not merely technical; it is also cultural.
Traditional grains and vegetables once formed the basis of indigenous diets, but colonial agricultural policies and post-independence modernisation efforts elevated maize above all else.
Reintroducing crops like millet and sorghum is, therefore, a revival of cultural heritage and culinary identity.
Economically, these crops open new markets. Demand for gluten-free, organic, and nutrient-rich foods is growing globally, and Zimbabwe has the potential to tap into this trend by branding its indigenous crops for both local consumption and export.
For instance, millet flour and amaranth seeds are increasingly sought after in health-conscious markets.
This could create opportunities for smallholder farmers to earn higher incomes while strengthening national food security.
Despite these positive developments, Zimbabwe still faces several hurdles in mainstreaming neglected crops.
First, consumer preferences remain tilted toward maize, which is deeply embedded in national identity as sadza, the staple meal.
Changing dietary habits requires sustained public awareness campaigns, school feeding programmes that include traditional foods, and marketing strategies that highlight the health benefits of diverse diets.
Second, market systems for small grains and indigenous vegetables are underdeveloped.
Unlike maize, which benefits from state procurement and well-established value chains, small-grain farmers often struggle to find reliable buyers.
Without guaranteed markets, farmers are reluctant to fully commit to cultivating these crops.
Third, infrastructure for processing and storage remains weak. Small grains, for example, are harder to mill than maize, requiring specialized equipment that many rural communities lack.
Expanding access to affordable processing technology would go a long way in making these crops more attractive for both farmers and consumers.
To consolidate progress, Zimbabwe must take a multi-pronged approach.
Policymakers should integrate neglected crops into national nutrition and health policies, ensuring they become part of public food procurement schemes such as school meals, hospitals, and prisons.
This would guarantee demand while shaping healthier eating habits.
Research institutions should continue investing in developing high-yielding, climate-smart varieties of neglected crops.
Extension services must train farmers not only in cultivation but also in post-harvest handling and value addition.
Civil society and private companies can play a role in building markets, creating innovative products such as millet snacks, sorghum beer, or dried vegetable powders for urban consumers.
Finally, Zimbabwe should position its indigenous crops on the global stage. By branding them as superfoods, the country can attract niche markets abroad, transforming neglected crops into valuable exports.
This would diversify the economy while reducing dependence on maize imports during drought years.
The story of modern agriculture is one of both triumph and tragedy: it reduced hunger but created fragile, homogenised food systems that leave populations malnourished and vulnerable to climate change.
Zimbabwe’s overreliance on maize epitomizes this dilemma.
Yet within the country’s soils lies a treasure trove of resilient, nutrient-rich, and culturally significant crops that can secure its food future.
By fully embracing neglected and underutilised species, Zimbabwe has the opportunity not only to safeguard its environment and health but also to empower its farmers and reclaim its culinary heritage.
In the fight against hunger, malnutrition, and climate vulnerability, the foods of the future may well be those we have long forgotten.
