Limpopo Sorghum -Pearl Millet Cultivation Systems (South Africa)

In the Limpopo Province of South Africa the Pedi and North Sotho people have developed an incredible diversity of local landraces of sorghum and pearl millet. Coupled with the environmental heterogeneity of the region (diverse climate, soils and vegetation), the cultural diversity of these communities results in an extremely complex situation where major differences occur in production practices and landrace morphology from farmer to farmer, even over very short distances in adjacent fields. Selection of farmer-saved seeds has generated landraces adapted to the local climatic and edaphic conditions, low fertility and low-input husbandry, but nevertheless fulfilling the taste and cooking preferences of the individual farmers. The old knowledge and skills are rapidly being lost; with this erosion the nation will lose a very unique and proud part of its heritage.