By Favourite Kalando

As the sun rises on the outskirts of Serenje District, Central Province, Gibson Ngoma is already in his field.

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

To many people, it looks like farm waste, but to him, it is the future of farming.

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

For many years, farmers in different parts of the country have relied on chemical fertilisers 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, fertiliser prices rose sharply. What used to cost about K750 per bag before 2019 increased to around K1,200 by 2022. These prices have remained the same for the past 3 years, making it difficult for many small-scale farmers to afford enough fertiliser.

But rising input costs are only part of the problem. Farmers are also experiencing 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 fertilisers, he embraced compost manure, turning crop residues and animal waste into nutrient-rich organic fertiliser.

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 fertiliser 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 fertilisers. 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, helping it hold moisture longer during dry periods while restoring nutrients lost over years of continuous cultivation.

As the country 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.

Although compost may not completely replace inorganic fertilisers in every farming system, agricultural experts say it is becoming an increasingly important solution for smallholder farmers.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), compost helps improve soil health, lowers production costs, and strengthens farmers' resilience to climate-related shocks, making it a practical and affordable option for many rural households in Zambia.

Communities like that of Mr Ngoma are contributing 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, Mr Ngoma is not waiting for solutions to come from elsewhere. Him and other farmers are creating them in their own fields.

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

Compost is helping Mr Ngoma restore his soils, reduce costs and prepare for an uncertain climate future. For Mr Ngoma, every compost heap represents more than organic fertiliser.

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

Picture of Mr. Ngoma preparing his composite Manure