Zimbabwe: Combating Childhood Malnutrition with Iron-Rich Pearl Millet
Grantee institution
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in collaboration with the Crop Breeding Institute (CBI) of Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Agriculture, and HarvestPlus, a global biofortification initiative.
Team
Dr. Henry Ojulong, ICRISAT, Principal Investigator
Sakile Kudita, Co-Principal investigator HarvestPlus- Zimbabwe
Hapson Mushoriwa, ICRISAT, Product placement Lead
Mandlenkosi Dube, Co Investigator Crop Breeding Institute (CBI), Zimbabwe
Key Partners
ARDA Seeds Seed multiplication and distribution. Zimbabwe Nutrition Association: Nutritional outreach and education.
Food and Nutrition Council of Zimbabwe: Policy advocacy and public health integration.
Local Farmers’ Cooperatives:On-ground implementation and farmer engagement.
Why We Exist
Background
Zimbabwe faces severe food insecurity, exacerbated by climate change and underinvestment in the agricultural sector. With 38% of the population experiencing food insecurity and 51.3% suffering from undernourishment, there is an urgent need for interventions that address both food production and nutritional deficits. Iron deficiency, affecting over 72% of children and 69% of women of reproductive age, is a particularly pressing issue, leading to widespread anemia and other health complications. Current agricultural practices, hampered by declining rainfall and poor soil fertility, yield only about 2.5 tons of pearl millet per hectare, with insufficient nutritional content.
Approach
The project aims to introduce and promote iron-rich, drought-tolerant, and high-yielding pearl millet varieties in Zimbabwe’s arid and semi-arid regions. Developed by ICRISAT in Kenya, these varieties are capable of yielding between 3.5 and 4.0 tons per hectare and boast an iron content of 70 to 110 parts per million, significantly higher than existing varieties. The project will involve a multi-location evaluation of eight candidate varieties, with the goal of identifying the best two or three for release and widespread adoption. The project will employ a full value-chain approach, from variety testing and selection to commercialization and consumer education.
Targets
Short-Term:Evaluate eight iron-dense pearl millet varieties and obtain varietal release approval for the top-performing two or three within 3 years.
Medium-Term:Distribute improved seeds to 100,000 smallholder farmers, reaching an additional 400,000 farmers indirectly by the project’s end in 5 years.
Long-Term: Achieve self-sustainability by integrating the improved varieties into Zimbabwe’s formal and informal seed systems, with continued support from seed companies, farmers’ cooperatives, and food processing companies.
The project is expected to significantly improve the nutritional status of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, by increasing access to iron-rich millet. Additionally, the high-yielding varieties will boost farm productivity and income, contributing to overall food security in Zimbabwe’s arid and semi-arid regions. With strong stakeholder support and a clear path to sustainability, the project has the potential to become a model for similar interventions across sub-Saharan Africa.
Current status
ICRISAT has successfully developed and introduced these pearl millet varieties in Kenya, where they have shown promising results in terms of yield, nutritional content, and climate resilience. In Zimbabwe, preliminary evaluations indicate strong potential for adaptation to local conditions. Seed companies, farmers, and food processors have expressed enthusiasm for the project, recognizing the benefits of iron-dense pearl millet in improving food security and nutrition.
Role of Grow Further
Grow Further will provide a grant over 5 years to fund the evaluation, release, and promotion of these pearl millet varieties. This funding will cover the costs of variety testing, seed multiplication, farmer training, and public awareness campaigns.
Our long-term plan is to form a network of chapters or imitators so that farmers and scientists have lots of choices when it comes to testing small or unconventional ideas, and so that people who don’t work at a grant-making agency have a meaningful way to get involved.
