By JOSIAH MPOFU
BAD agricultural practices have destroyed soil quality and made smallholder farmers vulnerable to climate change leading to livelihood losses in Zambia, as most smallholder farmers are unable to realise high yields. Thus, failing to experience acceptable living standards in their localities. Exacerbated with the climate change challenges, bad practices are a drawback to farmers causing them not to accept farming as a viable and lucrative business.
The European Union-funded Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming System (SIFAZ) Project in Zambia have been building capacities of smallholder beneficiary farmers in the 27 Project districts to adopt Sustainable Intensification Practices (SIPs) to address soil health and create resilience to mitigate and adapt to climate change taking into consideration agro-ecological regions and farming systems.
Working through the Agriculture Extension Officers at district and camp levels under the Ministry of Agriculture, the SIFAZ Project promotes recommended SIPs that address among others, soil moisture deficits and fertility challenges in respective regions. Over 17,000 farmers that are under 143 cooperatives have been engaged in agronomic trainings while a total of 60,000 are targeted.
On the one hand, the trained farmers have committed to do their part in tackling soil health issues by employing the recommended technology packages among them, Crop Intensification, Biological Weed Control, Integrated Soil Fertility Management and Soil Health technologies. Additionally, farmers are adopting good climate smart agricultural practices that include ripping, mulching, planting of agroforestry trees and safe use of herbicides and pesticides in their fields.
Representing farmers from Mulando Camp in Chikankata, Abel Shamonga stressed the importance of adopting SIPs as smallholder farmers as being critical for cooperative development in the next three years.
“Na kwainda 3 years, twazumanana eyi programme ili bobu, tulasumpuka. Tulajana bubotu kwendelenya na twabikila maano, chiyandika nkubikila maano.” (Participating in this programme for the next three years, we shall develop as long as we put effort. The important thing is commitment), Shamonga said.
On the other hand, agriculture extension officers are equally willing to support farmers with recommended Sustainable Intensification Practices as this would result in positive economic change in their respective districts.
Joshua Simaliki is a Camp Extension Officer under Nantale Camp in Kalomo District who believes that the recommended technologies being promoted will have a positive impact on the ground.
“Kalomo is known to be a maize production district. However, through this project, we should be able to grow different types of crops that ultimately is going to change the mono-cropping perception of the district. The information shared will be put to good use,” Joshua Simaliki assured.
Low productivity in Zambia is attributed to a lot of factors, major among them is the soil health problem. Inadequate soil moisture content and low soil fertility could be addressed by minimum soil disturbance such as ripping, basin making and making planting stations on permanent ridges to harvest enough rainfall that would enable a crop have enough moisture to sustain its growth even during the dry spell.
Every December 5th, the world celebrates World Soil Day, which provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of improving and sustaining soil health. This day is important to the United Nations as they respond to better production, better environment, better Nutrition and better life and further speaks to the strategic focus areas of Prosperity, People, Peace and Planet and it celebrates healthy soils for healthy food and healthy life.
This year’s theme is “Soil and Water: A Source of life.” The theme emphasizes the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems. As you are aware, Soil and water are essential for food production, ecosystems, and human well-being. We must take proactive measures to protect these resources for future generations. And healthy soil plays a crucial role as a natural filter, purifying and storing water as it infiltrates into the ground.
With the prevailing climate change effects, there is urgent need to address the soil health challenges for us to keep these soils alive and healthy. Once this is achieved, the soils will then take care of the crops by providing required nutrients and yields will increase.
In his recent opinion editorial on lessening the blow of climate-related loss and damage, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu has emphasized that climate change is affecting our capacity to produce food, altering the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food, as well as the quality of water, soil, and biodiversity, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and shifting the patterns of pests and diseases. These impacts increase food insecurity, reducing crop yields, livestock productivity, and the potential of fisheries and aquaculture as food producers.
Healthy soil, therefore, is essential for purifying and storing water as it seeps into the ground. It acts as a natural filter and contributes significantly to human well-being. However, land misuse and soil mismanagement pose a significant threat to the future of the agricultural sector and human life.
Consequently, practicing recommended sustainable technologies such as double strip cropping, Crop Intensification and double up legume cropping, complimented by good agricultural practices help resuscitate soil health and enable farmers realize better yields, income and generally enjoy the pleasures that a lucrative farming business offers.
With training held under the European Union-funded SIFAZ Project, the farmers also learn possible model options they may employ to access agro-inputs, mechanization, marketing and finance among others. The major determinant of accessibility to possible models is a strong cooperative that must operate throughout the year and a strengthened relationship with the private sector partners.
The SIFAZ Project is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the International Centre for Maize and Wheat (CIMMYT). It is funded by the European Union. For the past four years, the project has worked with 143 farmer cooperatives to train farmers in Sustainable Intensification Practices (SIPs) and business skills. The project is further linking these farmers to service providers for strengthened relationship that would survive beyond the project completion. -NAIS
