———–Lundazi District Commissioner Janet Mvula has
challenged farmers in Lundazi District to embark on diversification and conservation farming if they were to overcome the negative effects of draught due to climate change.
Ms Mvula observed that crop diversification and conservation farming was the best because it enables farmers grow different types of crops which can survive draught and
gives farmers enough income.
ZANIS in Lundazi District report that Ms Mvula was speaking when she officiated at this year’s Annual Field Day whose theme was “Attaining household food security and increased incomes in changing environment” held at Lundazi Farmers Training
Centre yesterday.
She said the main thrust of government policy on agriculture is increased agricultural production with emphases on diversification in crop and livestock in order to attain national and household food security and subsequently improved incomes.
The senior government official said government was aware that small scale farmers were still facing various challenges among them low crop yield, poor fertility, inappropriate farming practices coupled with high cost of inorganic fertilizers.
And speaking earlier, Lundazi District Agriculture Coordinator [DACO] Philemon
Lungu advised farmers to use appropriate agricultural technologies and
practices such as conservation farming and certified seed because it
has many benefits to farmers such as reduced weeding costs, minimized
chances of crop failure in draught period, increased yield and profit
and soil fertility improvement.