Linking promotion of improved sorghum and pearl millet varieties with community based seed multiplication: the rural livelihoods programme

Five NGOs (Oxfam Canada, Management Outreach Training Services for Rural and Urban Development [MOTSRUD], Dabane Trust, Zimbabwe Project Trust [ZPT], and Organization of Rural Associations for Progress [ORAP]) are collaborating on a pilot program on rural livelihoods in Zimbabwe. The program aims to improve nutrition levels and reduce vulnerability to drought in 15 target rural communities in drought-prone regions. SMIP was requested to participate because of its expertise on sorghum and pearl millet — crops that have a comparative advantage in drought-prone areas. SMIP's role is to provide improved varieties and training on small-scale seed production techniques to farmers, project managers, and extension workers involved in the program