NEWSLINE

  In view of the government's intention to transform the Farmer Input Support Program-FISP, into an agricultural business initiative, Participatory Ecological Land Use Management-PELUM country coordinator Muketoi Wamunyima has recommended the need to ensure that the revised program includes the provision of local seeds and organic fertilisers to farmers. Mr Wamunyima says in its current form, FISP is not working hence he welcomes plans to redesign it and is looking forward to seeing what will be contained in the new program. Mr Wamunyima believes that if the sector is to progress farmers must be given the choice of seeds they want to use in their fields, be it local or hybrid seeds. He feels that farmers have for a long time been forced to practise mono-cropping by only growing maize which he said has not helped the sector to grow and has since stressed the need to ensure that crop diversification is fully implemented. "We have started time and again that FISP is not working a

By Bwalya Kampamba In order to evade, the negative impact synthetic fertilizers pose on soil fertility and the environment in general , the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management- PELUM Zambia says the country must now be looking at investing in organic fertiliser production as well as promoting composite making at a large scale. PELUM Country Coordinator Muketoi Wamunyima has since opposed the call by President Hakainde Hichilema for the manufacturing plants to set up fertiliser plants as a way to mitigate challenges around the fertiliser procurement and distribution undertaking. During an interactive conference between Zambia National Farmers' Union-ZNFU and various fertiliser suppliers in Lusaka on Tuesday this week, President Hichilema challenged the fertiliser suppliers and some of the experienced players in the sector to consider setting up fertiliser manufacturing plants in Zambia so that the country can reduce reliance on the importation of the commodity, especially i

  By Christopher Chisi, Rufunsa District The commencement of the implementation of the  5-year Voices for Just Climate Action project last year has not only cheered but also brought a huge sense of relief to smallholder farmers based in Rufunsa District, who are seeking solutions to the impact of climate change.   The project which is being implemented by a non-government organisation which promotes biodiversity conservation and natural resources management in food production practices, called Community Technology Development Trust-CTDT in partnership with  Akina Mama Wa Afrika, a  feminist-Pan-African leadership development organization,  has invigorated farmers' hope and broadened their knowledge as well as their understanding of the impact of climate change and how best they can respond to the phenomenon. One of the farmers identified as Ruth Mangamu a member of persons with disabilities in the district said she did not know that the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and o

An international human rights organization that advocates for the realization of the right to food and nutrition, FIAN International Zambia has added its voice on the proposal by ZESCO to increase electricity connection fees, calling on the power utility firm to instead reduce the fees to ensure that a substantive population moves away from depending on charcoal. FIAN Country Coordinator, Vladimir Chilinya says the proposed hike on connection fees if approved will not only disadvantage the low-income households but also impact negatively efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change as most people will continue depending on charcoal thereby contributing to the depletion of the forest.  Mr  Chilinya says such proposals are a hindrance to efforts aimed at addressing key drivers of deforestation in the country. Statistics indicate that Zambia has an estimated deforestation rate of 250,000 to 300,000 hectares per year with key drivers of the scourge, ranging from the use of wood fuel, a

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA By Christopher /Favourite Chisi   As the planting of wheat and barley are currently ongoing, Agriculture Minister, Ruben Mtolo said during the announcement of the crop forecasting survey results for the 2021/2022 agricultural season and the food security status for the 2022/2023 marketing season in Lusaka on Thursday [12 May 2022] that, “government wish to appeal to the farmers to consider increasing area under production further so that we can produce enough to meet the needs of the country.”   Mr. Mtolo believes that an increase in local wheat production can help cushion the country’s economy from the impact of the projected high global price of wheat as a result of the current tension between Russia and Ukraine.    “With regard to barley production, preliminary estimates indicate that production is expected to increase by close to 66 percent to 14,201 metric tonnes from 8,556 metric tonnes last season while Wheat preliminary estimates also indicate that produc

  picture credit:theconversation According to the Zambia agriculture status report 2021 released by, the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute –IAPRI, Zambia recorded a 6 percent rise in the use of improved seed, from 66 percent reported in the 2019/2020 agricultural season (irrespective of crops produced) to about 72 percent in 2020/2021 agricultural season.   The report reveals that for maize, the percent of smallholder households using improved seed increased substantially to about 76 percent, up from 70 percent recorded in the previous agricultural season, representing an increase of 6 percentage points.   The report shows that for the past 15 years, the use of improved seeds among smallholder farmers has been on the upswing.   It further indicates that between 2004 and 2019, the number of farm households using improved seed increased by about 36 percentage points and the 2020/2021 use rate is the highest while the lowest was in 2004 which recorded a 44 percent.   “The gene

PC: International Crane Foundation The picture above is for illutration purposes Petauke District of Eastern province which is an agricultural area where farmers produce maize, cotton, sunflower, groundnut, soya beans and many other crops is located 425 kilometres from the capital city Lusaka, roughly halfway between Lusaka and the Malawi border has not been spared from the negative impact of climate change  through increased drought, extreme weather events, and flash floods.     climate shocks will progressively increase with time in Zambia.This reality show the need to invest in the key drivers of agricultural development that enhance pro-poor growth and resilience,according to the  Zambia Agriculture Status Report 2021 released by Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute. Smallholder farmers are among the most vulnerable groups that have been hit hard by climate change thereby posing a serious threat to food security at the household national security levels. Despite this fact,