Zimbabwean Women Share Indigenous Knowledge For Food, Seed Sovereignty

Climate change is making traditional farming more difficult in Zimbabwe. In response, Elizabeth Mpofu, General Coordinator of La Via Campesina, brought women farmers together via the Zimbabwe Organic Smallholder Farmers Forum (ZIMSOFF) to share knowledge and best practices. Drawing on indigenous wisdom passed down through generations about seed selection and storage, farming methods, nutrition and traditional medicine, women organized seed and food fairs to share the diversity of their native seeds. As a collective, they have lobbied the Zimbabwean government for agricultural policies that put women and food sovereignty first. Photo credit: La Via Campesina