Seattle-based non-profit Grow Further is channelling $300,000 from individual donors and corporate partners to fund cutting-edge research and development projects in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.
These initiatives aim to equip hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers with climate-resilient crops to combat worsening droughts, hunger, and malnutrition, benefiting over 4 million farmers.
Grow Further, known for empowering smallholder farmers in developing countries, will distribute the funds to agricultural scientists over five years. These scientists will focus on innovative solutions that help farmers adapt to climate change, improve crop yields, and boost nutrition. The International Crops Research Institute will implement the projects for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), HarvestPlus, and Madda Walabu University.
Project 1: Iron-rich, climate-resilient pearl millet in Zimbabwe
The first project, funded with $211,000, will introduce drought-resistant, biofortified iron-rich pearl millet to farms in Zimbabwe. Developed by ICRISAT, these crops require less water and are more nutritious, making them vital for addressing food scarcity and malnutrition. Zimbabwe’s ongoing drought has severely affected maize production, and this initiative will help farmers mitigate the crisis.
ICRISAT Senior Scientist Dr. Henry Fred Ojulong highlighted the dual benefits: “Farmers will get resilient grains and more nutrition, solving both food scarcity and malnutrition.” Zimbabwean farmer Siphathisiwe Ncube expressed excitement about scaling the millet’s distribution to her community.
Project 2: Year-round wheat harvests in Ethiopia
A second grant of $68,000 will support research on improved irrigation systems and better wheat varieties in Ethiopia. This will help smallholder farmers grow wheat during the off-season, significantly increasing the country’s wheat production and helping it meet its food security goals.
Madda Walabu University’s Assistant Professor Jemal Abdulkerim Ute stated, “This grant will allow us to develop strategies that help farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions and ensure more reliable wheat production.” Ethiopian farmer Abdul Hafiz Ahmed believes the project will solve current challenges related to irrigation and seed varieties.
These projects exemplify Grow Further’s mission to connect individual donors with agricultural innovations, creating a food-secure future for millions of smallholder farmers.
