adminSamuel Kadungure Farming Matters
THE main objective of agriculture is the production of crops, but previous trends show that increasing crop productivity in arid and semi-arid communal areas was difficult due to a blend of highly erratic and low rainfall and degraded soils deficient in plant nutrients. As such, farmers in dry regions need to adopt a paradigm shift and embrace the new – conservation farming – which if done properly is more likely to yield better harvests than conventional farming.
Conservation agriculture is a practice which aims to conserve soil and water by using surface cover or mulch to minimise runoff and erosion and improve the conditions for plant growth.
Farmers prepare planting basins or holes in rows instead of the conventional method in which the entire piece of land is tilled. Crops are planted and fertiliser or manure and water applied directly into the hole or basin which is protected by mulch.
Interventions such as mechanical soil tillage are reduced to an absolute minimum, and the use of external inputs such as agrochemicals and nutrients of mineral or organic origin are applied at an optimum level and in a way and quantity that does not interfere with, or disrupt the biological processes.
Soil organic matter not only provides nutrients for the crop but it is also, above all else, a crucial element for the stabilisation of soil structure.
In a soil that is not tilled for many years, the crop residues remain on the soil surface and produce a layer of mulch. This layer protects the soil from the physical impact of rain and wind but it also stabilises the soil moisture and temperature in the surface layers. Thus this zone becomes a habitat for a number of organisms, from larger insects down to soil-borne fungi and bacteria. Keeping the soil covered and planting through the mulch will protect the soil and improve the growing environment for the crop.
Agritex head for Manicaland Mr Godfrey Mamhare said apart from Buhera, the new concept was being practised in Chimanimani, Mutasa and communal parts of Mutare District.
He said though the method is labour-intensive, it has better returns.
“Our advice is for farmers in dry areas to use this technology. Its advantages include moisture conservation and use of mulch. Plant holes can be planted gradually and way ahead of the planting season so that the farmers are capable of utilising the first rains. The method has precision in terms of plant population and use of water in planting basins,” said Mr Mamhare.
Mr Mamhare said CA also discouraged the old concept of burning plant residues and turning the soil is mainly considered necessary for reasons to control pests, diseases and weeds.
“Burning crop and weed residue destroys an important source of plant nutrients and soil improvement potential. We encourage these farmers to apply this technology on small grain crop like sorghum, millet, rapoko, ground and round nuts. To those who want maize, they should do so on small scale and use the appropriate early maturing variety,” warned Mr Mamhare.
Farmers who used this method in Buhera District last year said the experiment was a success, while their counterparts who resisted change had little to talk about in terms of yields.
So far 12 000 farmers in Buhera have embraced this new technology.
Buhera District’s major characteristic is low and highly variable and erratic rainfall, severe mid-season dry spell, overworked and tired infertile soils that culminate in an unsuitable agro-environment for crop production under conventional farming methods that disturb the soil.
As a result, most households in the district had become an alarmingly constant epidemic that dangerously plagued the breadth and length of the district, compelling the entirety of its growing population surviving on food handouts to avert a mortal threat.
Things changed for the better last season for those who tried CA following its introduction by NGO Goal Zimbabwe in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Agritex. Buhera District Administrator Mr Rolland Madondo recently said the communal district, which at one point he agitated that it be transformed into a zoo, was gradually realising the positive pickings of the new technology.
“Over the years, the situation has been terrible, the entire district used to be vulnerable as it often realised a zero harvest. Things took a positive turn last season, with those who took up the concept of conservation farming, realising meaningful harvests. This concept must be embraced in this district and we at the same time encourage farmers to take it along with small grain crops,” said Mr Madondo, as he addressed a visiting delegation that included the Provincial Administrator, Mr Fungai Mbetsa, Goal officials, journalists, provincial heads of agro-related Government departments and local farmers.
One of the farmers, Mr Peter Musendeki, of Ward 32 under Chief Nyashanu, said his family would increase the hectorage under conservation farming this coming season.
He said prior to the introduction of the concept he would realise zero harvest per hectare and would depend on food handouts for survival.
After last season success, Mr Musendeki believes that despite the method being labour-intensive, it was worth adopting.
“Old farming methods no longer work here. I tried conservation farming last year and it worked and this is why I am taking it up again and at a larger scale this season. This is what the doctor has prescribed to eliminate hunger in this drought-prone area of Buhera,” said Mr Musendeki.
Goal Zimbabwe crop production specialist Mr Tichaona Gadzikwa implored farmers in dry prone areas to explore new farming ways to preserve crop moisture.
Mr Gadzikwa said: “Basically we are trying to teach them new techniques that can enable them to beat hunger. Buhera is a drought-prone area and most of the practices most of these farmers are using lack the capability to mow down hunger.
“We are introducing conservation agriculture as the model to avert hunger,” said Mr Gadzikwa.
“The results have been very positive, but when we introduced it, only a few took it up as the majority chose to be cautious. They started stampeding after seeing the results.
“The attitude has changed and more people are taking up the concept. It is our wish that every farmer in Buhera embraces this technique as it has the power to transform their lives,” added Mr Gadzikwa.
Another farmer, Mrs Janet Mujongwe of Masvingo Village in Buhera, said the same piece of land on which she used unscientific traditional methods in the past, last year gave her 10 bags after employing the new concept.
“I would like to urge the people from Buhera to take up conservation agriculture. It works wonders in eliminating hunger,” she added.
Chief Ellias Dohwe Nerutanga said the whole communal district must embrace the new concept as past trends resulted in it recording a zero harvest and the number of people who suffered hunger, malnutrition, and hunger-related diseases was staggering.
Major causes of hunger in dry regions of Manicaland are poverty and poor harvests resulting from poor agricultural planning in which peasants continued planting of maize in areas that are unsuitable for the crop.
The communal areas experience adverse drought related to climate change that often leads to a combination of erratic rains. The soils are over-exploited and infertile, while inputs supply remains erratic and exorbitant.
Decreased rainfall and rising temperatures have thrown many farmers in these areas into confusion as seasons have become unpredictable making it difficult for them to plan properly.
Erratic rains have caused crops to wilt before maturity.
Climate change experts are placing the blame for the changing weather patterns on the increasing amount of gases in the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide and other gases such as methane and nitrogen — commonly referred to as greenhouse gases — are causing the earth to heat up.
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