Cost cutting: Bundles of cassava cuttings will assist families Anita’s, to start again after the cyclone
A new variety of drought-resistant cassava is helping victims of Cyclone Freddy in Mozambique
Nordino Vicente
Over the years, ForAfrika has increasingly adapted its agriculture training to incorporate lessons about climate change. This is because the communities we work with are experiencing the effects of this phenomenon more intensely.
Adaptation includes introducing new varieties of crops and vegetables. In South Sudan, farmers affected by floods are experimenting with rice, which thrives in watery conditions. In Mozambique, a sweeter, tastier and more nutritious variety of drought-resistant cassava was introduced.
News has spread about the popular root vegetable in the Vilankulo district, bringing many people to the farm of Tomás Sitoe, a former participant in ForAfrika’s Community Agriculture Project (CAP), to purchase it.
Tomás has enjoyed farming success – but he is not afraid of sharing his good fortune with others. He has assisted a number of his neighbours since Cyclone Freddy stormed its way across the country.
Mozambique is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events and has experienced cyclones every year – often with devastating results. This year, Cyclone Freddy returned to the country three times. Many people lost their homes and their crops, including Anita Damiano who farmed in the same area as Tomás.
“It rained a lot, a lot. We had groundnuts, maize and beans and we lost everything. We also lost some chickens and goats. It was very bad for us. All we can do now is start again,” Anita said.
Before Cyclone Freddy destroyed their farm, she and her family were growing crops for their own use and selling whatever surplus they had at the local market.
Commercial seeds are costly
Like many African subsistence farmers, the Damiano family do not have money for commercial seeds to replant crops. While many farmers in Mozambique save seeds from one season’s crop to plant in the next season, if these seeds are destroyed by flooding or some other disaster, they have to buy commercial seeds. Commercial seeds are often drought-resistant and have other beneficial attributes, but they are expensive for people who live mainly hand-to-mouth.
Most seeds have to be imported from South Africa or elsewhere, and once in the country, there is a mark-up.
However, Tomás has kindly given bundles of cassava cuttings to Anita and others. Cuttings can be replanted easily, although it will take some time for them to be able to use the leaves and tubers.
The bundles of cassava are very heavy to carry and it will take Anita about 45 minutes to walk home with a bundle on her head.
“But they will help us a lot,” she said. “We feel a bit better.”
Tomás is happy to help: “Since I received help, I also want to help my friends.”
Nordino Vicente is provincial manager in Mozambique