BY OWN CORRESPONDENT
CHIMANIMANI based non-profit making organisation, Valley of Hope (VOH), has revealed that it is supports the concepts of African seed sovereignty. The organisation said this on the sidelines of an African seed market workshop that was held by Knowledge Transfer Africa at a conference centre in Chimanimani on November 01, 2023.
Knowledge Transfer Africa is promoting the marketing of African organic seeds through its flagship named eMkambo.
Speaking to this publication, Programmes Officer for VOH, Taurai Sithole said that a country without its own seed is doomed.
“We have attended the workshop by Knowledge Transfer Africa on the need to market African organic seed because as Valley of Hope, we sincerely believe in the attainment of African seed and the consumption of African food.
“A nation with its own seed is doomed since it loses its identity. One of the key aspects of culture is food and drink. Depending on foreign food translate to losing one’s own culture. So as an organisation, we urge people to grow own seed and consume organic food,” he said.
The word Mkambo refers to market in isiNdebele language. It has the same connotation in the Shona language though in Shona, the word Musika commonly refers to the market.