AboutISANMagazine
ISANMagazinewasbornin2021outoftheKnowledge HubforOrganicAgricultureandAgroecologyin SouthernAfrica,aprojectfundedbyBMZand operationalisedbyGIZandAfricanNGOsthroughfive knowledgehubsmakinguptheKnowledgeCentrefor OrganicAgricultureandAgroecologyinAfrica.Theaim istosupporttheemergenceofastrongregional
network,tocapacitatemultipliersoffarmingknowledge andtofillknowledgegapsthathindertheuptakeof organicagroecology.
ISANmagazineactivelyworkstocontinuestrengthening networks,keepingpractitionersandconsumersinformed andadvocatingfororganicagroecology.
ISANMagazineisdedicatedtobuildingastrongnetworkofinformedcivilsocietyactorsand organisationsacrossthesouthernAfricanregiontoadvocatefororganicagricultureand agroecologyasaframeworkforregionalfoodandfarmingsystems.
Editor-in-chief:FortunateNyakanda
ManagingEditor:StefanieSwanepoel
Staffwriters:OdetteMavunga,RabeccaMwilaand IsaacMafuel
Production:OdetteMavunga
Layout&design:AlisterMakan’a
Coverimagecredit:MacphersonPhotographers
SendyourcontributionsforthemainMarch2025edition tosecretariat@isan.ifoam.bioby10February2025.For partnershipandadvertisingqueries,pleasecontact chair@isan.ifoam.bio
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Getintouchifyouwanttofeatureyourorganisation,event,festivalorprojectsthroughoneofourspecial editions.Emailusformoreinformation.
Editor’sNote
Inthisspecialedition,weshowcasetheGoodSeedandFood FestivalsthattookplaceinZimbabweandZambiainSeptember andOctober2024.Thesefestivalsarecelebrationsofcultureand placestosharefood,seedandknowledge.Joinusinappreciating thevitalrolethattheyplayinkeepingourfoodandfarming heritagealiveandinhighlightingtheimportantrolethatindigenous seedcanplayinensuringasustainablefoodsystemforall.
About The Festivals
Theseannualfoodseedfestivals serveseveralpurposes,besides allowingustoenjoygreatfood, entertainmentandcompany!
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• Theyaregreatspacesforknowledgeexchangebetweenfarmers whobringtheirtraditionalseedsandfoodtodisplay.Thisknowledge isalsosharedwithconsumerswhoattendthefestival.
Theyraiseawarenessoftheneedtopreserveourheritageand agri’culture’thatpointsthewaytowardssustainablefoodand farmingsystems.
Theyhighlighttheenvironmentalandnutritionalbenefitsof traditionalfoodsandtheneedtosupportsmallholderfarmers.They uniteadiverserangeofstakeholderstofosterwidespreadsupport andmomentumforagroecologyinthesecountries. Theyshowcaseclimate-resilientagriculturalpractices.They providemarketaccessandsalesopportunities.
PumpkinseedsCredit:MacphersonPhotographers
TheZambiantraditionalseed andfoodfestivalgivesan opportunitytofarmersand policymakerstointeractand discussissuesaffectingfarmers andtheagriculturesector.MuketoiWamunyima,Country Coordinator-PELUMZambia
DifferentindigenousseedsonshowcaseCredit:PELUM-Zambia
Zambian Traditional Seed & Food Festival
Theme:Buildingahealthy,resilientfoodandseedsystem
Date:11-12October2024
Location:Mundawanga
BotanicalGardens,Lusaka
Moreinfo:Emailus
TheZambiaTraditionalSeedandFoodFestivalisanannualplatformfor theexchangeofnewknowledgeandideas,aswellastheexchangeof farmer-savedseeds.Thetwo-dayeventexposesthousandsof consumerstoindigenousfoods,localentertainmentandtheworkof inspiringnongovernmentalorganisationsacrossthecountry.Itisa celebrationofcultureandfoodheritagethatshowcasesthevalueoflocal foodsystems.
Day1broughtstrategicstakeholderstogetherforafarmerdialogue. Day2wasopentothegeneralpublictoenjoythedisplaysoftraditional seedandfoodandlocalentertainment.
CommunityTechnologyDevelopmentTrust farmersshowingofftheirseedsatthefestival:PhotobyCTDT
Thefestivalservesasaplatform forexchangeofnewknowledge andideasinfarmingand exchangeoffarmersavedseeds. –CharlesNkhoma,Director, CommunityTechnology DevelopmentTrust,Zambia
AdisplayofvarietyoflocalseedsatKasisiAgricultural TrainingCentrestandCredit:PELUM-Zambia
SeedsondisplayCredit:PELUM-Zambia
Farmersdialoguesession Credit:PELUM-Zambia
TheSeed
Themultitudeoflocalseedsondisplayrevealthe diversity–offood,knowledgeandnutrition–available inlocalfoodsystems.Itisthesetinyyetmightyseeds thatdefineourculture,shapeourlandscapesand sustainourcommunities.Eachtableiscoveredwith jars,basketsandglassbottles,atestimonyofacultural
heritagepassedonfromgenerationtogeneration. Seedsineveryshape,colourandtexturelaysidebyside includinglegumes,cereal,fruits,grains,vegetablesand manyothercrops.Theseseedsreflectyearsof resilienceandadaptation,showcasingthewisdomof thefarmerswhohavecultivatedthemforcenturies.
AdisplayofavarietyoflocalseedsatthefestivalCredit:PELUM-Zambia
SorghumdisplayedatthefestivalCredit:PELUM-Zambia
SandraNtambalearrangingherdisplayatthefestival:PhotobyCommunityTechnologyDevelopmentTrust
MarySakalashowsoffherdisplayofseedsCredit:PELUM-Zambia
TheFood
Themouthwateringtraditionalfoodsoftenformthe highlightofthefestivalwitheveryoneeagertotakea biteofthediversetraditionalfoodsanddrinks.With everydish,speciallypreparedforlocaltastes,stories areshared,storiesofresilience,andthedeepbond
betweenpeopleandthelandcelebrated.Thesefoods, liketheseedsandthetraditionalmusicrepresent centuriesoftraditionspasseddownthrough generations,usinglocallygrowningredients,and recipesthatreflecttheuniqueAfricancultures.
TraditionalChicken/Roadrunner
Chikanda/Africanpolony
Mealsampmixedwithfriedgroundnutpowder
AssortedtraditionalfoodsdisplayedatthefestivalCredit:PELUM-Zambia
Vimbombo/BeefTrotters
TheAtmosphere
Ourseedandfoodfestivalsareneverwithoutour traditionaldancetroupestolighttheatmosphereof thefestivalbybringingrhymesanddancesthat underscorethespiritofUbuntu(‘Iam,becauseyou are’).Thedances,likethelocalseeds,carrythe stories,cultures,andenergypasseddownthrough
generations,honouringthecyclesofnaturethat sustainusall.Themusic,themovements,andthe costumesreflecttheuniqueheritageandcultural richnessofourcommunity,justasourseedsreflectthe diversityofoursoilsandfields.Wedanceandsingto celebratelife.
Zanimuoneyouthdancetroupeentertainingguestsatthefestival Credit:PELUM-Zambia
VokapodancetroupentertainingguestswithadanceCredit:PELUM-Zambia
GuitaristPontianoKaicheentertainingtheguests
KidsdancetosongsbyMozegetaatthefestivalCredit:PELUM-Zambia
Zimbabwe Good Food & Seed Festival
Theme:Promotingagroecology,foodsovereigntyandclimatejustice throughtraditionalfood
Date:13-14Sep2024
Location:HarareBotanical Gardens,Harare,Zimbabwe
Moreinfo:Emailus.
TheZimbabweGoodFoodandSeedFestivalhasbecomeacornerstoneevent inthecountry’squestforasustainablefoodsystem.Heldannually,thefestival bringstogetherfarmers,consumers,youthsandpolicymakerstocelebratethe richculinaryheritageofZimbabwe.Theprimaryaimistohighlightthe nutritionalandenvironmentalbenefitsoftraditionalfoods,supporting smallholderfarmersandfoodproducers.Forthefirsttime,fellowfarmersfrom Malawi,SouthAfricaandZambiajoinedtheevent.
Day1wasanetworkingdayforfoodsystemstakeholders. Day2openedtothepublictoshowcasetheincrediblearrayofseedandfood productsproducedbysmallholderfarmers,processorsandmarketers.
Beautifuldisplayoffarmerseeds Credit:MacphersonPhotographers
Agroecologyiskeytosustainable agricultureandfoodsystems andthefestivalhashelpedme learnaboutnewcropvarieties andconnectwithotherfarmers.–Zimbabwefarmerparticipatingin ZimbabweSeedandFoodFestival
SeedandKnowledgeInitiativecelebrationinsong Credit:MacphersonPhotographers
Naturallygrownvegetabledisplay
Farmereducatingconsumersonfarmervarietyseeds
Value-addedproductsfromorganicingredients
Allimages arecreditedto:MacphersonPhotographers
TheSeed
TheZimbabweGoodSeedandFoodFestivalshowcased anastonishingarrayofseeds,highlightingthecountry's richagriculturalheritageandtheimportanceof preservingbiodiversity.Featuringtraditionaland heirloomseeds,thefestivalcelebratedAfrica's incredibleseeddiversity,withdrought-tolerantcrops
andmedicinalherbsondisplay.Localfarmersshared theirexpertise,emphasisingthesignificanceofseed preservationforfoodsovereigntyandenvironmental resilience.Theeventservedasapowerfulreminderto promoteagroecology,urgingconsumerstosupport localfarmersandfoodproduction.
Differentindigenousseedsshowcased Credit:MacphersonPhotographers
Allimages arecreditedto:MacphersonPhotographers
Organichoneyonsale
Mushroomgrowingstall
Mutangatsapi,a,ared-seededfingermillet
Farmer-to-farmerknowledgeexchange
TheFood
Cookingdemonstrationsstoletheshow,showcasing thediversityandrichnessoftraditionalZimbabwean cuisine.FarmersfromMudziandTsholotshodistricts tookcentrestage,preparingnutritiousandinnovative dishesusingindigenousingredients.MaureenVere,a cowpeafarmerfromMaronderawowedthecrowdwith hercreativevegancowpea-basedproducts,including hercowpeapatties,sausagesandmince.
Herrecipeshighlightedtheversatilityofcowpeas,a cropsheproudlycultivatesandinnovativelycookswith. InternationaldelegatesfromMalawi,Togo,andTunisia sharedtheirownculinaryexpertise,highlightingthe versatilityoflocalingredients.CelebritychefTafadzwa Anifasifacilitatedlivelydiscussionsaroundfood preparation,alternativecookingmethods,and substituteingredients.
Differentfoodspreparedatthecookingdemonstrations Credit:MacphersonPhotographers
Thisissomethingveryspecialfor thefarmers.Farmersareseeing otherdisplayssimilartotheirs,and seethattheseseedsarevaluedas wevaluethem.
–MethodGundidza,EarthLore ProgrammeManageratEarthLore
Traditionalflatbreads
CowpeaFarmerTurnedChef:MaureenVere’sInnovativeRecipes
TraditionalZimabweandishes CowpeaPattie’s/Dishesfromtheinternationaldelegates
TheAtmosphere
TheZimbabweFoodFestivalwasnotjustaboutfood;it wasavibrantcelebrationofculture,musicand community.Theentertainmentlineupwasdiverseand exciting,cateringforallagegroups.Localtheatre groupsperformedengagingdramaactsandfestival goersgotmovingwithZumbasessions,afunand energeticwaytostayhealthy.
Thisinteractiveactivityencouragedattendeesto prioritizewellnessandself-care.Youngmusicsensation GemmaGriffinsdeliveredanelectrifyingperformance captivatingcrowdsofenthusiasticfans.Herpresence helpedattractayoungeraudiencetothefestival,who thenlearnedaboutthesignificanceofsavingtraditional seedsforabetterharvestinthefaceofclimatechange.
GemmaGriffinsrocksthestageattheZimbabweFoodFestival
GemmaGriffinsonstage
images arecreditedto:MacphersonPhotographers
Allimages arecreditedto:MacphersonPhotographers
TahleWeDzinzaonstage
Crowdenjoyingperformances
Zumbasessioninfullswing
Livemusic,goodvibes;Mbeuperforming
Recipe Corner
Somelocalfood recipestotryoutandimpressyourfriends!
Chikanda/WildOrchid
Ingredients:
1/2teaspoonSoda
Groundnutpowder(500grams)
Ifisashi
Ingredients:
1bunchcassavaleaves
1cuprawgroundpeanutpowder
1tomato,chopped 1/4teaspoonsoda
Salttotaste Water
Preparation:
Washthecassavaleavesthoroughly,removing allunwantedparticles
Inamediumpot,addtheleavesand¾cupof water
Addthechoppedtomatoesandthepeanut powder
Add1/4teaspoonofsodaandsomesalt
Stirtocombineeverything
Bringthemixturetoaboilforatleast5minutes andthenstirfromtimetotime,addingaliitlebit ofwaterifneeded.
Continuedoingthisforatleast30minutesthen reducetheheattolowandletitsimmerforabout 15minutesoruntilthevegetablesandthe groundnutsarewellcooked
Formoreamazinglocalrecipesandcooking demonstrationvideos,clickhereandhere.
Chikanda/WildOrchidCredit:PELUM-Zambia
“Thefestivalisaplatformformovementbuildingofallplayersin agroecology.Itisinstrumentalinthecreationoflinkagesbetweenfarmer managedseedssystemsandfoodproductionsystems,andforfarmerto-farmerlearning,seedsexchangesandpolicyadvocacy.”
MutintaNketani,Coordinator,ZambiaAllianceforAgroecology andBiodiversity.
“IamamongthefarmerswhoarebringingbackAfrica’sforgottenfoods. CherrytomatoesandgooseberriesarereallyamongAfrica’sforestcrops. Wepickedandatethemonthewaytotheriver,collectingfirewoodbut now,youcanhardlyfindthem.Wehaddifferentvarietiesofvegetablesthat arelikeweedwithnointerventionfromthefarmerbuthavebeenpushed outbyexoticcrops.Atthefestival,welearnaboutseedrestorationand embracingtraditionalsystemsastheyarebettersuitedtoourclimateand environment.”
AminaChiwocha,afarmerfromChingwaruvillage,Zimbabwe
“TheZambiantraditionalseedandfoodfestivalraisespublicawareness aboutsustainableproduction,marketing,andconsumptionthroughthe lensofagroecologywithmuchemphasisontheuseofindigenousseed andtraditionalfood.”
GetrudeSiame:ProgrammeSpecialist-LivelihoodsandClimate Change,CaritasZambia
“Thefestivalcelebratesfarmers’knowledgeandraisepublicawareness aboutthecontributionthattraditionalseedandfoodsandtheir managementsystemsmaketowardscommunitycohesion,nationalfood andnutritionsecurity,andlong-termpublichealthandwell-being.”
VladimirChilinya,CountryCoordinator,FIANZambia
