Indigenous And Drought-Hardy Crops Offer Climate-Resilient Profitability Prospects
As South Africa grapples with increasingly erratic summer rainfall and climate pressures, indigenous and drought-hardy summer crops such as Bambara groundnut, amaranth, sorghum, and cowpeas are gaining renewed attention for their resilience and nutritional value. These crops, long cultivated by smallholder farmers and used in informal markets, represent important avenues not only for food security but also for niche commercial opportunities in Southern Africa’s challenging agricultural landscape.
Bambara groundnut, lauded as South Africa’s second most important food legume, thrives mainly in Mpumalanga but has yet to reach commercial scale. Seed availability remains a barrier, yet the crop is valued by small-scale farmers who often intercrop it with maize, cowpeas, and melons, or cultivate it as a stand-alone crop. It offers drought tolerance and contributes to dietary diversity in rural communities.
Amaranth stands out as a dual-purpose crop. Known for its exceptional nutritional qualities, it serves both as a leafy vegetable and grain. Despite its potential, amaranth’s grain use is still under-exploited in South Africa, where it is primarily grown as a leafy vegetable. Commercial production for either use remains limited, suggesting the need for carefully managed expansion to develop sustainable markets before wide-scale adoption.
Sorghum and cowpeas enjoy a more established commercial presence. Sorghum has a longstanding history in South African agriculture, supported by existing production knowledge and infrastructure. It is valued for its drought resilience, with its physiology tailored to survive high temperatures and low rainfall conditions prevalent in semi-arid regions. Sorghum production in South Africa, however, stands at modest levels, ranking 13th worldwide with an average annual yield of 130,000 to 150,000 tonnes. The domestic sector faces structural challenges, including declining demand for bitter sorghum used in traditional beer, which has lessened incentives for production growth.
The country’s sorghum sector also faces a unique disadvantage as sorghum is the only grain subjected to VAT, inflating consumer prices and deterring investment in new cultivars. Consequently, South Africa has become a net importer of sorghum, relying heavily on imports from Botswana, which used to be an export market for the crop.
Yet, global demand for sorghum is expanding rapidly, driven by health-conscious consumers and the brewing industry’s experimentation with alternative grains. The global market reached US$8.2 billion in 2024, growing annually by 4.6%, making sorghum a promising crop for climate-smart and profitable farming.
Cowpeas, pivotal in African agriculture, are prized for nitrogen fixation which improves soil fertility—a critical trait in low-input farming. Africa produces about 70% of the world’s cowpeas, reinforcing the continent’s strategic role in supply. The crop flourishes in hot, dry climates and marginal soils, yielding up to 2 tonnes per hectare under good conditions.
On the market front, cowpeas face challenges like price volatility and mechanisation gaps which limit profitability. In South Africa, cowpeas are primarily grown as fodder but hold untapped potential as grain for human consumption, green manure, and erosion control cover crops. Advancements in breeding and processing could address consumer acceptance issues related to taste and digestibility.
Zimbabwe, sharing similar semi-arid agro-ecological zones, has seen promising uptake of indigenous crops, including cowpeas and sorghum, especially among smallholder farmers aiming to adapt to climate variability while boosting household nutrition. The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, and Rural Resettlement supports such crops under the Climate Smart Agriculture framework, promoting drought-tolerant varieties to enhance food security and rural incomes.
FFA Explainer Box: Indigenous Crops
“Indigenous crops are traditional plant species native or long-established in a region, often well-adapted to local conditions. They typically require fewer inputs, tolerate stress such as drought, and maintain cultural significance in diets. Examples include sorghum, cowpeas, Bambara groundnut, and amaranth.”
The persistent challenges for indigenous crops include limited seed systems, sparse research investments, and constrained market access. Moreover, consumer perceptions often favour conventional staples, hindering widespread commercialisation. Policy support focused on extension services, seed certification, and value-chain development is essential to bridge these gaps.
Aligning with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which prioritises climate-resilient agriculture and rural economic empowerment, indigenous crops offer a pathway for youth, women, and smallholder farmers to diversify production and incomes. Their integration into agricultural systems enhances agro-biodiversity and conserves genetic resources vital for future food security.
In conclusion, indigenous drought-hardy crops hold significant promise for Southern Africa’s sustainable agricultural future. Their resilience, nutritional benefits, and emerging market potential warrant intensified research, policy backing, and targeted commercialisation strategies. This will enable farmers, from Zimbabwe to South Africa, to navigate climate challenges while pursuing profitable and sustainable farming enterprises.
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