SOIL FERTILITY INITIATIVE MAKING STRIDES IN NORTHERN AND EASTERN PROVINCES

 By HAPPY MULOLANI

“ONE of the concerns for a long time is that farmers have concentrated on feeding plants without feeding the soil,” National Coordinator for the National Innovation Platform on Soil Fertility, and Dean of the School of the Agricultural Sciences at the University of Zambia, Benson Chishala disclosed.

Dr Chishala’s sentiments comes amid concerns in the decline in food production and food security which is attributed to the high soil acidity levels.  

“What is key is to understand is that soil fertility is closely tied to food security, hence the need to better nature the soil through improved approaches” he noted.

Over the years, this challenge has culminated in poor soil fertility levels leading to low production and food security.

With this identified gap, a project on restoring soil fertility was initiated in 2015. The first National Innovation Platform on Soil Fertility was held in December, 2018. It tabled some of the concerns, challenges and wayforward of addressing soil fertility management, resulting in the development of one key component, which entails properly managing the soil through appropriate approaches.

Dr Chishala emphasized that efforts to address the poverty levels through improved soil fertility practices is apparent. The status quo has culminated into the Organic Resource Management for Soil Fertility (ORM4SOIL) project with funding support from the Swedish. This project has been work collaboratively with research institutions, Ministry of Agriculture and University of Zambia and other agriculture development partners.

The project identified Chipata and Kasama districts in Eastern and Northern provinces as pilot districts to have trials and demonstrations on improved soil fertility practices in order to better their yields and contribute to increased food production and security.

He explained that this presents the opportunity for key players in agriculture development on fostering and bettering the soil fertility approaches to enhance farmer yields.

At a recent second National Innovation Platform on Soil Fertility heled in Lusaka, Acting District Agricultural Coordinator for Chipata, John Chuba highlighted that the innovation platforms were key in fostering communication campaigns which has played a significant role in creating awareness to farmers and more collaboration has been enhanced.

Mr Chuba finds traditional leaders has playing a critical role in encouraging farmers to adopt farming practices which improves.

“A lesson learnt from the projection intervention in the district is that the local leadership has been helped in educating farmers, noting that it is not easy to interact with chiefs and influence subjects,” he revealed.

He further explained the innovation platforms serve to enhance not only collaboration being also better presents strengthening of the existing linkage.

The beauty of these innovation platforms is that it has provided available options for farmers to use in improving the soil.

Loyce Banda, a farmer from Chibuvungwe in Chipata, says she has learnt how to use manure and Agroforestry practices which have significantly improved her yields.

Francis Mwenya, a farmer in Chilongoshi agricultural camp, is one of the farmers, who has drawn vital lessons learnt from useful from the innovation platform- the traditional of Fundikila, which is basically the use of grass, leaves and ridges. These approach has turned out to be different and effective from chitemene system.

Mr Mwenya Farmer appreciates Fundikila more than Chitemene because it was restoring soil nutrients and yields were better than using the Chitemene system.

The role of the sustainable soil fertility champion needs to influence policy advocacy and search for opportunities especially at expert platforms.

With the realization of improving soil fertility and boosting food production and security, the need for a soil fertility champion is key to influence appropriate policy decisions as a contribution to the agriculture sector.

Soil Fertility Champion, Venon Chinene stressed that as a nation, there is need invest in low input agriculture.

“We need to ensure we make 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 commercialization low input agriculture and showcase research initiatives through agriculture shows and related platforms,” he said.

The project interventions have contributed to knowledge in promoting low input agriculture technologies and practices among farmer communities. In all, a myriad of opportunities are imminent given the anticipated increase in the world population to nine million by 2050. This is a glimmer of hope for farmer communities to re-think and look at the great demand for technology and practices which should be able to sustain and feed a lot of people.

For this to happen, there must be concerted efforts and appropriate policy to improve the soils and land management in championing the ever increasing food demands globally.