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Business Correspondent
FARMERS have been challenged to use traditional farming technologies that make use of local resources in order to improve agricultural yields in the face of erratic rains and droughts. Speaking during a Climate Change Awareness Workshop for journalists at a local hotel last week, Environment Africa regional director Mr Paradzayi Innocent Hodzenge said by practising traditional farming technologies such as use of plant basins which improve moisture conservation, farmers could boost agricultural productivity in the country.
“For farmers to improve their agricultural yields in the face of erratic rains and droughts they should practise conservation agriculture.
“The concept involves the use of simple farming technologies such as plant basins for moisture conservation.
“Results from more than 5 000 rural farmers in the country whom we have worked with have shown that even in years when the rains are not enough, production levels can be maintained hence ensuring food availability especially to less fortunate rural communities that depend on rain fed agriculture.
“Evaluation results also revealed that of the farmers working with our organisation on conservation agriculture, 60 percent were food secure after the 2011/12 agricultural season,” he said.
Mr Hodzenge said in an effort to reduce the risk in case of droughts, his organisation was engaging farmers to promote crop diversification.
“In a bid to ensure that farmers are able to meet some of their food requirements even in the face of a drought, Environment Africa is running programmes with farmers mostly from Masvingo and Matabeleland regions to promote crop diversification and planting of small grain crops.
These small grain crops like millet and sorghum if they are promoted successfully as alternative crops would assist in ensuring food security in the face of erratic rains and droughts,” said Mr Hodzenge.
Environment Africa is a private voluntary organisation, which is working together with all sectors of society raising awareness, encouraging action and advocating for a better environment that uplifts the livelihoods of current and future generations.
The organisation through its strategic plan 2011-2015 has also made deliberate efforts to assist communities bolster their resilience to natural hazards like droughts or floods.
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