By Dorcas Kabuya Chaaba
The use of improved technologies is very essential for farmers as it contributes significantly to good yield and ultimately improves farmers’ livelihoods.
Over the last years, scientists and researcher in Africa have developed agricultural technologies which have not reached the farmers who are the intended due to numerous challenges among them weak agricultural extension service system, poor linkages between research and extension services and delay in release of technologies.
As a result, Africa still ranks low in the world in terms of utilisation of modern agricultural technologies and urgent attention to address this challenge cannot be over-emphasised.
It is for this reason that Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Service (AFAAS) under the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme initiated the processes to support technology dissemination within the agricultural space.
FARA Acting Knowledge Management Learning & Communications Cluster Lead Specialist and TAAT- Knowledge Management & Outreach Officer, Benjamin Abugri, said some extension sharing materials which have been procured under the TAAT programme are aimed at strengthening the dissemination of agricultural technical information for the 10 African countries and Zambia is one of the beneficiaries.
“FARA is gaining momentum in strengthening capacity for technology delivery and outreach in TAAT countries namely Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Rwanda, Kenya, DR Congo, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia,” said Mr. Abugri.
He disclosed that to support the implementation of these activities, FARA has procured 5 Samsung Galaxy A51 Smartphones and Handheld Projector (DCS 1000) with its accessories (Solar Panel, Bluetooth Speaker, Keyboard, Power Bank, Tripod Stand and a Projector Screen) equipment for use in strengthening capacities.
“The TAAT programme sponsored by the African Development Bank (AfDB) has three key deliverables including promotion of gender and youth inclusiveness, develop a gender sensitive farmer registration template to enable countries that want to adopt it and conduct capacity audit which has been slowed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 but the consultant has already been engaged,” he noted.
TAAT is a program that seeks to address these challenges by ensuring the holders of technologies develop the appropriate partnerships with the research organizations, government agencies, financial service providers, and private sector to accelerate technology deployment to farmers and rural communities.
And Zambian Forum for Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (ZAFAAS) Chairperson and Director for Golden Valley Agriculture Trust (GART), Martin Muyunda, explained that ZAFASS was established in 2015 with a vision of having an efficient and effective extension and advisory services that can contribute to improved productivity and agricultural transformation in a gender responsive and nutritional sensitive matter.
Dr. Muyunda stated that ZAFASS works closely with key stakeholders including the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that farmers can make their own farming decisions and meet production targets and above all assume ownership of their resources and livelihoods.
He further said some of the objective of ZAFASS include among others the promotion of dissemination of innovative technologies and human capacity development for extension and advisory services.
“It is in this lines that GART was identified by ZAFASS as one institution which is instrumental in the dissemination of technologies in the country due to its deliberate technology dissemination programme which uses different channels such as hosting of seed fairs, agriculture-expo and field days,” noted Dr. Muyunda.
He further stated that GART has a foresight programme under which the young generation are trying to have the knowledge of agriculture inculcated in their minds as they grow adding that the donation had come at the right time.
“The donation which has been made to GART will be an opportunity for the institution to further its capacities in collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure that appropriate technologies are disseminated,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile Director under the department of Agriculture, Moses Mwale, noted that his department is tasked with the responsibility to ensure national and household food security.
Mr. Mwale said the major focus is to effectively disseminate appropriate information to the farmers so that that information transcends into maximum productivity and production adding that the department is directly in touch with the farmers through the extension officers.
“We are thankful to FARA for the generous gesture which help enhance the work of extension staff through easy connectivity and the gadgets will be used for the intended purposes,” he said.
ZAFAAS is hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and operates under the authority of the African Union (AU) to contribute to the fulfilment of the CAADP Pillar IV (the Maputo and Malabo declarations).
It is the complement to the research organisations established under FARA, particularly the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development in Eastern and Southern Africa (CCARDESA).
