When Fertilizer Became Too Expensive, Farmer Found Hope in the Soil

By Favourite Kalando

As the sun rises over Serenje District, Gibson Ngoma is already in his field.

Instead of opening bags of chemical fertilizer, the 56-year-old farmer walks towards a large heap of maize stalks, dry grass, leaves and cattle manure.

To many people, it looks like farm waste.

To him, it is the future of farming.

"It is all I need," he says with a smile. "Everything for my fertilizer comes from right here."

For many years, farmers across Zambia have relied on chemical fertilizers to produce good harvests. But that has become increasingly difficult.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains, and when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, fertilizer prices rose sharply. What used to cost about K750 per bag before 2019 climbed to around K1,200 by 2022, making it difficult for many small-scale farmers to afford enough fertilizer.

But rising input costs are only part of the problem.

Farmers are also battling the growing effects of climate change.

Erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells and declining soil fertility are making it harder to produce enough food each season. Many communities that depend on rain-fed agriculture are finding themselves increasingly vulnerable.

For Gibson Ngoma, these combined challenges forced him to think differently.

Rather than depending entirely on expensive chemical fertilizers, he embraced compost manure, turning crop residues and animal waste into nutrient-rich organic fertilizer.

The process requires patience.

Crop residues, dry grass, leaves, animal manure and water are carefully layered into compost heaps, which are regularly turned over for several months until they become rich organic manure.

"I don't spend money buying fertilizer anymore," he explains.

That decision has transformed both his farm and his finances.

Mr. Ngoma estimates he now saves around K3,600 each farming season, money he previously spent on Urea and D-Compound fertilizers.

Despite using natural manure, his maize production has remained strong.

"From two limas I harvest more than 30 bags," he says proudly. "The crops are healthy and the soil is improving."

For him, composting is not just about saving money.

It is helping his farm cope better with changing weather.

Organic manure improves soil structure, allowing it to hold moisture for longer during dry periods while also restoring nutrients that have been lost over years of continuous cultivation.

As Zambia experiences more frequent droughts and unpredictable rainfall linked to climate change, healthy soils are becoming one of farmers' strongest forms of protection.

What is happening on Mr. Ngoma's farm reflects a growing shift taking place in many rural communities.

More farmers are beginning to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices that help them reduce production costs while building resilience against climate shocks.

These practices include compost making, crop rotation, minimum tillage, residue retention and agroforestry.

Together, they improve soil health, conserve moisture and reduce dependence on costly external inputs.

Mr. Ngoma has become one of the local champions driving this change.

He has already trained more than 40 farmers in his community, sharing practical knowledge on compost production and encouraging others to use locally available resources.

"I tell other farmers not to throw away crop residues," he says.

"They are valuable. They can help us grow food without spending too much."

His work demonstrates that climate adaptation does not always require expensive technology.

Sometimes the most effective solutions come from knowledge, local resources and a willingness to change long-established farming practices.

Agricultural experts acknowledge that compost alone may not completely replace inorganic fertilizers in every farming system.

However, for thousands of Zambia's smallholder farmers, it provides an affordable way to improve soil health, lower production costs and strengthen resilience against climate-related shocks.

The story of Gibson Ngoma is also a story of climate justice.

Communities like his contribute very little to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet they are among those most affected by climate change through droughts, poor rainfall and declining agricultural productivity.

Despite these challenges, farmers are not waiting for solutions to come from elsewhere.

They are creating them in their own fields.

What began as a response to rising fertilizer prices has become something much bigger.

In one quiet village in Serenje, compost is helping farmers restore their soils, reduce costs and prepare for an uncertain climate future.

For Mr.  Ngoma, every compost heap represents more than organic fertilizer.

It is proof that resilience can grow from the ground beneath our feet.

Picture of Mr. Ngoma preparing his composite Manure