FAO urges farmers to adopt sustainable, climate-smart farming techniques
By Staff Reporter
FOOD and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has urged farmers to adopt sustainable and climate-smart farming techniques, which boost yields and restore soil health.
ZANIS reports that officials from FAO made the remarks when they visited farming areas in Kasama district to check on the implementation of a project called Save and Grow, whose objective is to promote eco-friendly farming.
FAO Conservation Agriculture Officer, who is also Save and Grow project Coordinator, Sandra Corsi said climate resilient farming systems can help to lessen small-holder farmers’ dependence on non-renewable production inputs.
Corsi added that sustainable farming methods were also key in reducing vulnerability among small-scale farming through increased productivity.
She added that her organization was keen to support farmers venture into the production of market driven crops.
Corsi said this could be done through creating links between farmers and markets.
And FAO Agricultural Engineer, Josef Kienzle encouraged farmers to embrace eco-friendly farming ways and use of simple mechanization tools which ease the production labour.
Kienzle said this can help farmers to have stable yields.
He appealed to farmers to be wary of the reduced crop planting window which was as a result of climate change.
Meanwhile, Kasama District Commissioner (DC), Kelly Kashiwa said the implementation of the Save and Grow project was a timely move towards addressing household poverty and mitigating the impact of climate change.
Kashiwa said the conservation farming methodologies would help farmers have enough food for both sale and consumption.
He said the project would also cushion government’s expenditure on the supply of farming inputs.
The Save and Grow project was a German government funded initiative through the FAO being carried out in Sri Lanka and Zambia.
Kasama and Mumbwa are the two districts selected to implement the project in Zambia.
