NdaFA props up Agroecology, African Food Sovereignty

By Steve Ephraem

NDAU Festival of the Arts (NdaFA), a Chipinge based organisation that promotes and preserves Ndau culture and heritage is this year promoting the concept of Agroecology and traditional African food sovereignty.

The year’s festival is running under the theme, “Ndau Culture: Enhancing The Conservation of The Environment and Natural Resources For Food Security” and shall be held on 23 September at Paiyapo Arts and Heritage Centre, Bangira village, Chikore in Chipinge.

Agroecology is the application of sustainable ecological principles to agricultural systems and practices in order to have yield yields while reducing environmental impacts.

Speaking to this publication, the Founder and Director of Ndau Festival of the Arts, Mr Phillip Kusasa indicated that people need to conserve the environment in their bid to have food security.

“As Africans, we are proud of our traditional seed and food. We therefore prop up traditional African food security at the same time paying attention to conserving the environment. We need to conserve the environment especially in this era of climate change.

“We have arranged to hold a symposium for researchers this year. We want to open as much dialogue as possible on the need for conserving the environment and natural resources in our bid to secure organic traditional African food,” he said.

NdaFA has thus invited key stakeholders in climate justice and agroecology. These include Chipinge based Green Institute of Mt Selinda and Refugee Coalition for Climate Action (RCCA)of Tongogara Refugee Camp as well as Chimanimani based Participatory Organic Research, Extension and Training (PORET).