CROP MANAGEMENT
...the goal of the training was to ensure that small scale farmers in the Province are transformed to another level of farming
ABOUT200 small-scale farmers of Senanga, Limulunga and Nalolo districts of Western Province have been trained in drip irrigation and crop management by The Barotse Ranching and Cropping of Senanga district in partnership with Impulse Africa at the commercial farm in Senanga district.
Barotse Ranching and Cropping (BRC) Agronomist, Johnson Tembo said this comes after the call by her Honour the Vice President Inonge Wina during her recent visit to the commercial farm in the district, when she called on the private sector in the Province to work with government, small holder farmers and other stakeholders to promote agriculture in the country and ensure that Zambia becomes the hub for the region in terms of agriculture produce.
Mr Tembo stated that the goal of the training was to ensure that small scale farmers in the Province are transformed to another level of farming and become BRC's out grower farmers who should be growing the products to be sold in the high commercial markets like Shoprite, Pick and Pay and border towns where they can be able to sell like Angola, Namibia and Botswana.
He disclosed that his company which already has a
10-years contract with Shoprite and other commercial markets can't reach the demand required, that's why the two companies thought of engaging the Ministry of
Agriculture and Musika so as to go into the outgrower’s scheme.
Mr Tembo stated that it is hoped that the knowledge imparted to the farmers dur
ing the training will enable them to grow high crops such as tomatoes, cabbages, onion, pumpkin, water melon, and butter nuts because such are high crops needed
by the commercial markets that they want to put on the shelves to sell.
Meanwhile, Technical adviser for NETAFIM South Africa Nambwale Kalunga who was one of the facilitators said his company came on board to offer support and introduce the irrigation kits, try and sensitize the farmers to be aware of the use of drip irrigation as a smart tool to use to combat the challenging times of climate change, and other technologies that would help them.
Mr Kalunga encouraged the participants to do farming as a business, not just for consumption, adding that one can grow anything on drip irrigation and with its benefits that come with it, where less energy cost will be used, less weeding, crop quality and higher yields, and that in any agriculture concept, water application in crops is vital hence the aspect of water in the training.
And a farmer from Limulunga Royal Village in Limulunga district Pumulo Lutangu noted that the kind of lessons imparted on the farmers will make them realize that farming is a business as the technics that were introduced during the training is what is needed to help them grow their farming businesses.
Mr Lutangu observed that food demand is ever escalating on the market and exceeds the supply, hence the need for farmers to know the market needs, improve on the quality and use the modern farming techniques.-NAIS