In the dry lands of Gwanda, in Matabeleland Province of Zimbabwe, rural women are leading the way in growing traditional seeds and adapting to climate change. These women, who have long been the guardians of local seed knowledge, are using their skills to protect indigenous crops such as millet, sorghum, and cowpeas seeds that are better suited to the region’s hot and dry climate. As rainfall becomes less predictable and droughts more common, these traditional seeds are proving to be more reliable than modern hybrids.
Gwanda is one of the driest places in Zimbabwe Rainfall is low and unpredictable. Many years, the rains come late or not at all. This has made it hard for families to grow enough food. But the women of Gwanda are not giving up. For generations, women in this region have been the keepers of traditional seeds small grains like millet, sorghum, and rapoko. These seeds were passed down from mothers to daughters. They were kept in clay pots, baskets, or sacks in kitchens and huts. They were planted with care, shared with neighbors, and respected as gifts from the land.
But over time, these traditional seeds were replaced by hybrid seeds. These new seeds promised bigger harvests, but they needed chemicals, fertilizers, and lots of water. In Gwanda, where water is scarce, many of these new crops failed. People lost money, lost harvests, and lost hope. Now, the women of Gwanda are going back to their roots. They are bringing back traditional seeds that are strong, hardy, and well-suited to their dry land.
“We realized that our grandmothers knew better,” says Nokuthula Dube, a 54-year-old farmer from Thulilishongwe. “The small grains don’t need much rain. They grow even when the sun is too hot. We can save the seeds and plant again the next year.” Together with other women in her village, Nokuthula started a community seed group. Each member brings seeds from their home millet, cowpeas, groundnuts, and more. The women share these seeds freely and help each other plant them. They also teach younger women how to care for the seeds and store them safely after harvest.
“These seeds are our treasure,” Nokuthula adds. “They feed our families and protect our future.” The women have also started building small seed bankwhere seeds are stored safely in cool, dry conditions. These banks are managed by the women themselves. They decide which seeds to plant, which ones to share, and how to keep the bank full each year.
In nearby another RWA group of women, led by Tshamabili Ncube, is using traditional farming methods mixed with new ideas. They dig small holes filled with compost to catch water and grow crops better in dry soil. They plant their traditional seeds in these holes and have seen better results.Growing of traditional seeds has brought more than just food. It has brought power and pride. Many of these women are now teaching others in their communities. They are leading workshops, and even speaking at local meetings about growing traditional seed and climate change.
This RWA movement, has also helped rebuild community ties. During harvest time, women gather to thresh millet, shell groundnuts, and share stories. These gatherings are full of laughter and songs. Children watch and learn. In this way, knowledge is passed on not just about farming, but about life. Still, challenges remain. Many women do not own land. Some face pressure to return to hybrid seeds. Droughts are becoming worse with climate change. But the women of Gwanda say they are ready.
“We cannot control the rain,” Nokuthula says. “But we can control our seeds. And with these seeds, we can survive. “These women are proving that climate resilience does not always come from outside. Sometimes, it comes from looking back to the knowledge of ancestors, to the seeds stored in clay pots, and to the strong hands of rural women who never stopped believing in the land.
