Formulate pro-small farmer policies, Govt urged

GOVERNMENT should formulate pro-small farmer policies that will boost adoption of irrigation technologies and spur economic growth, Davis & Shirtliff Zambia Managing Director Jonathan Mainga has said.

Mr. Mainga said it was important for the new dawn administration to promote development and provision of affordable modern food production techniques and irrigation technology to boost productivity and income generation among small-scale farmers.

In an interview, Mr. Mainga said once formulated, the policies would make it possible for small holder farmers to access finances and vital technologies that encourage use of less water and cheap solar power, sustainably boosting their productivity and income.

“Africa is a continent largely dependent on agriculture which is rain-fed, and only about 6 percent of our arable land is irrigated.

"The continent could cement food security and likely even triple food exports if we harvest water and exploit our large underground aquifers that are literally untapped resources for irrigation,” Mr. Mainga said.

He also explained that the water occurrence in terms of quality and quantity was a fading resource in the country and elsewhere in Africa making it increasingly difficult for farmers to source water for optimal plant performance.

It is therefore, he said, only by use of technologies that guarantee optimal application rates and performance monitoring in irrigation as well as addressing matters of water quality that we are able to achieve the desired effects on plant health and overall output.

Mr. Mainga noted that more than 75 percent of food is produced by smallscale farmers who own less than 10 acres of land in Africa.

He said most of those technologies were way above what most farmers can afford.

"That’s why proper incentives and access to finance will help provide complete cost-effective solutions at all levels while taking a holistic approach to various challenges faced by water users,” he said.

He disclosed that his firm was pushing for more adoption of irrigation solutions starting with the smallest modular drip kits that can be scaled to larger areas, automation options for all systems, fertilizer injectors, portable and fixed sprinkler sets as well as large scale centre pivots and hose reels.