Zimbabwe farmers doubled their sweet potato growing areas from last season. The total space jumped from 10,413 hectares to 20,108 hectares thanks to government programs that boost food security and help rural families earn money. This big increase shows how important this crop has become for many people across the country. The government gives away free sweet potato vines to farmers who need them.
The Presidential Rural Development Programme started in 2021 and continues to help everyday farmers grow more food. Ms. Hilda Manditsvara from Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services recently talked about why this matters. She pointed out that sweet potatoes help families eat better, add variety to what farmers can grow, and create new ways for people to make money.
Since the program began, officials have distributed more than 3.5 million vines to rural families. They want to eventually reach 1.8 million households, with each family receiving 50 high-quality vines that stay free from disease. Different parts of Zimbabwe show different results. Mashonaland East grew its sweet potato fields by almost fourfold, going from 1,327 hectares to 4,155 hectares this year.
Masvingo increased even more dramatically, jumping from 1,117 hectares last year to 5,159 hectares. Manicaland went against the trend and actually decreased its sweet potato area from 4,159 hectares down to 3,475. The government plans to build a $1.217 billion rural farming economy by 2025 through these efforts, with dreams of reaching $3.5 billion by 2030.
Sweet potatoes make sense for small farmers because they grow well even when conditions aren't perfect. They need few extra materials or fertilizers but can produce up to 30 tonnes of food per hectare. As El Niño weather patterns challenge other crops, sweet potatoes keep growing and feed families throughout tough times.
Most sweet potatoes grown traditionally have white flesh inside, but farmers have started growing orange-fleshed varieties that buyers want to export overseas. The government teaches farmers how to use healthy vines without pests or diseases. They also learn better farming methods to grow more food from the same land area.
The Presidential Rural Development Programme started in 2021 and continues to help everyday farmers grow more food. Ms. Hilda Manditsvara from Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services recently talked about why this matters. She pointed out that sweet potatoes help families eat better, add variety to what farmers can grow, and create new ways for people to make money.
Since the program began, officials have distributed more than 3.5 million vines to rural families. They want to eventually reach 1.8 million households, with each family receiving 50 high-quality vines that stay free from disease. Different parts of Zimbabwe show different results. Mashonaland East grew its sweet potato fields by almost fourfold, going from 1,327 hectares to 4,155 hectares this year.
Masvingo increased even more dramatically, jumping from 1,117 hectares last year to 5,159 hectares. Manicaland went against the trend and actually decreased its sweet potato area from 4,159 hectares down to 3,475. The government plans to build a $1.217 billion rural farming economy by 2025 through these efforts, with dreams of reaching $3.5 billion by 2030.
Sweet potatoes make sense for small farmers because they grow well even when conditions aren't perfect. They need few extra materials or fertilizers but can produce up to 30 tonnes of food per hectare. As El Niño weather patterns challenge other crops, sweet potatoes keep growing and feed families throughout tough times.
Most sweet potatoes grown traditionally have white flesh inside, but farmers have started growing orange-fleshed varieties that buyers want to export overseas. The government teaches farmers how to use healthy vines without pests or diseases. They also learn better farming methods to grow more food from the same land area.
