SOIL FERTILITY CHAMPION

By HAPPY MULOLANI

THE University of Zambia under the School of Agricultural Sciences and Organic Resource Management Soil Experts (ORM) team have unveiled VENON CHINENE, as the Champion of Soil Fertility.

Speaking at the Second National Innovation Platform on Soil Fertility in Lusaka, School of Agricultural Sciences Dean, Benson Chishala says Professor Venon Chinene has vast experience in soil fertility matters and will lead the cause for better strides in improving soil fertility.

Dr Chishala said Professor Chinene has been a University Administrator, First Vice Chancellor of Mulungushi University and land management lobbyist and is also an accomplished author on soil fertility.

He explained that the role of the soil fertility Champion is to influence decisions and be in the frontline and spearhead matters of soil fertility.

He said the Soil Fertility Champion will be a servant, representative and lobbyist at national level.

“The soil fertility issues need to be heard. We want to be recognized as a country for doing so much in the area of soil fertility,” says Dr Chishala.

Dr Chishala described Professor Chinene as a highly motivated farmer, who is also showcasing what he is practicing in terms of soil fertility.

And Professor Chinene says there is need to continuously advocate for better soil management practices aimed at sustainable production in Zambia and beyond.

He stressed that as a nation, there is need to invest in low input agriculture.

“We need to ensure we make the right investment into low input agriculture because it will potentially have a high return on investment,” said Professor Chinene.

Professor Chinene emphasized that adequate research into soil fertility and related issues has been conducted on low input agriculture.

“What is required is to commercialise low input agriculture and showcase research initiatives through agriculture shows and related platforms,” he said.

The project interventions of Farmer-driven Organic Resource Management to build Soil Fertility (ORM4Soil) have contributed to knowledge in promoting low input agriculture technologies and practices among farmer communities. Clearly, a myriad of opportunities is imminent given the anticipated increase in the world population to nine million by 2050.

Professor Chinene’s professional career as a soil scientist spans over 42 years, having been appointed as a lecturer at the age of 27 at the University of Zambia.