Conservation Agriculture could up yield – Lusaka East farmer

THE only way to increase crop yield is for farmers to practice Conservation Agriculture, a Lusaka East farmer Aaron Chungu has said.

Mr Chungu who is a poultry farmer and Chicola Estate director which produces organic manure from chicken

e a e used it oursel es at t e ar en you co e to t e ar you ill see e a e not used ertiliser or t e last years but t e sa e or anic ertiliser

It’s time we started to look at ways to reinstate our soil.

droppings said unlike chemical fertiliser, the use of organic mature has no side effects on the soil and can be used on different crops.

He said the manure helps in reconditioning the soil by replacing the nutrients.

Mr Chungu advised farmers to avoid burning the field as the practice destroys the nutrients in the soil.

“Many farmers have this belief that when they burn the field there are destroying some harmful insects. You don’t burn fields because fire kills life in the soil.

“Big farmers plough back to give nutrients in the soils, in addition burning the field worsens soil erosion.

Mr Chungu said the manure manufactured at Chicola estate has been used on his farm and it has proved effective.

“We have used it ourselves at the farm. When you come to the farm, you will see we have not used fertiliser for the last 25 years but the same organic fertiliser.

“It’s time we started to look at ways to reinstate our soil.

He observed that there are plenty of organic materials around hence the need to gather and use them.

Mr Chungu explained that statistics have shown that crop yield in the country has been going down hence farmers should turn to organic farming.

He commended the Conservation Farming unit for doing everything possible in teaching farmers about Conservation Agriculture.

Mr Chungu said bad agriculture practices are also another factor that leads to rivers drying hence the need to conserve water, adding that cost of production is lower and quicker when one is practicing Conservation Agriculture.