The role of policy in the encroachment of maize cultivation in semi-arid Zimbabwe

For many areas of smallholder dryland agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa, cultivation of drought-resistant small grains such as millets and sorghum offer reliable harvests and food security. Despite this, the area given over to maize in such semi-arid areas has been increasing, although there is a risk of crop failure associated with its longer growing season. The influence of agricultural policy on this change in cropping patterns is examined here in the context of Zimbabwe. It is argued that despite the official extension advice discouraging maize cultivation, other aspects of policy have indirectly contributed to this change in cropping patterns. These aspects include seed supply, changes in producer prices, and the operation of the drought relief programme.