Change farming methods, farmers advised
CLIMATE change is real and it is here to stay, Conservation Smart Agriculture representative Goliath Sikamikami has said.
Mr Sikamikami said this during a meeting addressed by Chief Chitina in Mkushi at Chungulo Village on his annual tour of his chiefdom.
He said in the era of changes in climatic conditions, conservation farming was the only way to go for agriculture development.
Mr Sikamikami said in the prevailing hunger situation, the only people who had food were those practicing conservation farming.
He said in 2013, when conservation farming was introduced to the area, all farmers engaged had stopped and reverted to traditional methods, a situation he described as unfortunate and contributing to poor yields as well as hunger.
Mr Sikamikami said conservation farming had more advantages than traditional methods in the era of climate change.
It increased the productivity of land, soil structure and protected the soil against erosion.
Among other advantages, Mr Sikamikami cited protection of nutrient loss by maintaining a permanent soil cover as well as reducing soil disturbance.
“Climate change is for real, and it is here as an enemy of agriculture. Farmers should put up measures to reduce its effects like venturing into conservation farming,” Mr Sikamikami said.
He said it was time farmers started practicing crop rotation and diversified to other high-value crops like soya beans, unlike depending on maize.
Mr Sikamikami appealed to farmers to venture into conservation farming for high yields and productivity.