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Govt calls for increased conservation farming
MKUSHI, March 29th , 2014, ZANIS—Government has advised small scale farmers in Mkushi District to continue embracing the importance of conservation farming methods.
Mkushi District Agriculture Coordinating Officer (DACO) Chiluba Wabalika says that there was need for small scale Farmers to understand that government was determined to promote conservation farming as it was beneficial for the country.
He said that it was gratifying to note that the adoption of conservation farming had culminated into thousands of Farmers improving their crop yields.
He added that improved production had enabled them to buy cattle, solar panels and other appliances.
The DACO said this today when he officiated this year’s Conservation Farming Unit(CFU) Field Day in Mkushi District’s Nkumbi area.
Mr. Wabalika said that government acknowledged that conservation farming had proved beneficial since it was introduced in the country in 1995, saying that this method of farming was viable.
He saluted the CFU for organizing Field Days in remotely placed communities of the District, saying that the exchange of data and experiences was of mutual benefit to Farmers and Agro-Companies.
Meanwhile, Central Province CFU Manager Yvonne Nakachinda pointed out the need for Farmers to maximise the technical expertise of Agriculture Extension Workers and CFU Coordinators.
Mrs. Nakachinda said that there was need for Farmers to utilise the advisory and consultative services of such Officers, explaining that farming was dynamic and scientific.
She said that in view of this, there was need for Farmers to understand that conservation farming was designed to be a remedy to cope with the effects of climate change such as poor rainfall.
And CFU’s Mkushi District Manager Jeremy Selby underlined the importance of attending to details involved in planning and management of farming.
Mr. Selby said, during the same event, that attention to details was important in management of inputs as well as land, explaining that this was especially key in stages of farming such as preparation as well as weed and pest control.
More than 300 farmers from various parts of the District attended this function, with Agro-companies such as MRI, Greenbelt Fertilisers and SARO also in attendance.
ZANIS / ENDS / CM /MM………….DRY.
