By Blessing Muchineripi

In the sun-scorched fields of Ward 10, under Chief Chitsa in Gutu District, one woman has turned adversity into opportunity. Julien Maindidze, a 40-year-old mother of one, has become a champion of resilience, harnessing the power of traditional grains to combat food insecurity in a changing climate.

For years, the unpredictable weather patterns—worsened by recurring El Niño seasons—left many farmers struggling with poor harvests and hunger. Julien was no exception. The devastating droughts nearly broke her spirit, but instead of giving up, she sought a different path—one rooted in traditional wisdom and sustainable farming.

“The scarcity of food causes numerous problems, such as poor health, social unrest, early marriages, and even prostitution. It also lowers living standards,” she says.

Determined to find a solution, Julien embraced agroecology. In 2019, she embarked on a transformative journey, participating in exchange visits to farming communities in Mwenezi, Bikita, and Shashe. She listened, learned, and absorbed the techniques of those who had successfully adapted to the harsh climate. The following year, she put her newfound knowledge to the test.

Julien shifted her focus to traditional grains—finger millet, sorghum, pearl millet, and later, barnyard millet. She improved her yields by preparing Bokashi, a powerful organic fertilizer. With meticulous care, she sourced molasses, rock dust, bran, termite soil, manure, dry matter, yeast, crushed maize stalks, and leaf matter—blending them into a nutrient-rich mix that revitalized her land.

The results were staggering.

“From 2015 to 2018, I only harvested between one to one and a half (50kg) bags of millet from my 2-hectare piece of land. But in 2020, I harvested between one and a half to two tonnes of millet from the same land, all thanks to embracing traditional knowledge that was shared at the exchange visits I participated in,” she shares.

Today, Julien no longer worries about food shortages. Her farm sustains her family year-round, ensuring her child’s education and securing a better future. Her success has rippled through the community, inspiring other farmers in Gutu District to rethink their farming methods.

Agroecology has not only given Julien food security but also a renewed sense of empowerment. In reviving traditional knowledge and blending it with innovation, she has rewritten her own story—one of resilience, self-sufficiency, and hope.

Her journey stands as a powerful testament to what is possible when farmers embrace sustainable practices. Through small grains and agroecology, Julien is not just surviving—she is thriving. And in doing so, she is lighting the way for countless others to follow.