In the face of worsening climate change, indigenous crops like sorghum, millet, amaranthus, and hemp offer critical solutions for sustainable agriculture in Africa, according to Professor David Katerere of Tshwane University of Technology. These crops improve soil health, absorb significant carbon, require less water, and are highly adaptable to harsh climates—making them ideal for building climate resilience. However, their cultivation has been overshadowed by maize, which, while high in carbohydrates and historically favored for labor-intensive industries, is less climate-smart and environmentally sustainable.
Despite their potential, indigenous grains face numerous challenges, including bird damage, poor market visibility, and limited investment in agro-processing. Sorghum, for instance, is often undervalued as mere animal feed, despite its wide use in beverages like mahewu. Professor Katerere stresses that traditional knowledge around these crops—like their water efficiency and multi-use potential—should be integrated with modern processing technologies. Moreover, crops like amaranthus and blackjack, often dismissed as weeds, have nutritional and medicinal value, yet remain largely absent from formal food systems and value chains.
To unlock the potential of indigenous crops, farmers, policymakers, and communities must work together to promote awareness, boost demand, and restructure policy incentives. Professor Katerere recommends removing VAT on sorghum products to make them more affordable and competitive with maize. Additionally, he calls for greater support for climate-smart crops in terms of processing infrastructure, market access, and public education on their health benefits. Without such collaborative efforts, these “superfoods” will remain underutilized—despite their ability to support both climate goals and food security.
Read full article at https://www.foodformzansi.co.za/indigenous-crops-the-climate-smart-superfoods-we-need/