My name is Abel Hangoma, though most people know me as the Radical Farmer. I’ve spent years championing sustainable agriculture and organic solutions that put power back into the hands of commercial and smallholder farmers. I believe in challenging the status quo, questioning what we plant, how we plant, and why we plant it. And this season, something radical is happening in our village, we’re going back to sorghum.
For decades, maize ruled our fields and our plates. It was the default crop, popular, promoted, and subsidized. But year after year, the signs became clearer: maize was failing us. Unpredictable rainfall, soaring input costs, and persistent pests turned maize farming into a gamble most of us were losing.
Then came the turning point. I encouraged fellow farmers to try something different. We didn’t need to look far, we turned to a forgotten hero: sorghum. Our ancestors grew it before colonial systems and seed companies convinced us maize was king. We planted it in test plots. We watched it thrive where maize wilted. No fertilizers. No pesticides. Just resilience.
The real surprise was the taste and nutrition. When we cooked that first pot of sorghum nshima, it was like coming home. Rich in fiber, iron, antioxidants, and essential minerals, sorghum is more than a survivor, it’s a superfood. Our elders smiled. Our children ate with energy. The health benefits were undeniable.
“This maize,” one elder said, shaking his head, “we are just losing. It needs too much rain, too much money, too much everything. Next year, we grow sorghum!”
Today, at our local markets, conversations have shifted. We talk about sorghum recipes, traditional porridge, tasty fritters, even sorghum-based drinks. Some young farmers are experimenting with sorghum flour for baking. We’re not just farming, we’re innovating and reclaiming forgotten knowledge. This isn’t just a trend. It’s a movement. We’re adapting to climate change not by importing new solutions, but by reviving old ones. Sorghum is our climate-smart crop, our cultural heritage, and our future.
As the Radical Farmer, I’ve always said that solutions to Africa’s agricultural problems are in Africa. Sometimes, they’re right beneath our feet.
So yes maize, we thank you, but you’ve become too hard to grow. It’s time for a homegrown comeback. We keep grinding, back to our roots.
