EFFICIENT USE OF LABOUR AND INPUT IN HIGH-RAINFALL AREAS

By GLORIA SIWISHA

CHANDA Pascale Mulenga aged 60, is a lead farmer who hails from Shimumbi Agricultural Camp in Luwingu District, of Northern Province.

Geographically, the District lies in Agro-ecological region III, which generally receives annual rainfall of between 1,000 mm and 1,500 mm.

While this rain may be essential for plant growth, the high rainfall received in Luwingu makes its soils water-logged, highly leached and are characterized by very strong acidity, severely low nutrient reserves and low nutrient retention capacity.

This leads to low yields and financial losses for smallholder farmers like Chanda, whose main source of livelihood is farming.

As part of efforts to correct the situation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), working in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and CIMMYT, has since 2019 been promoting the use of permanent ridges in Luwingu, and other areas prone to water-logging, through the European Union -funded Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems (SIFAZ) project in Zambia.

Focussing on the agronomy part, the project aims to ensure yield gap reduction, promote climate change adaptation and improve soil health in addressing farmer challenges for a better production and environment.

Unlike under conventional practice where ridges are usually smaller in size and are made every season, the permanent ridges are maintained in subsequent seasons, thereby reducing soil disturbance, saving time and labour for farmers, as well as costs.

Their wider length which is set at 180 cm, and flattened surface at a height of 20 cm, also makes it is easier for farmers to conduct crop rotations of cereals and legumes, intercropping, and crop intensifications involving cereals, with Gliricidia and Sunhemp, which can increase the soil’s biomass.

Chanda, inspired by the successes of the technology on the two (2) hectare mega-demo where other beneficiaries also learn from, decided to adopt it and has been applying it on his three (3) hectare farmland since 2023.

“One of the strengths of permanent ridges, is their ability to improve drainage in times when there’s excess rainfall. Therefore, they are suitable for my area which receives too much rain. Their permanent nature allows farmers to reduce labour costs, save time and money, as once they are made, a farmer can use them for at least three (3) consecutive years without having to disturb the soil, to make new ridges,” he recounted.

Since adoption of permanent ridges, Chanda has experienced significant improvements in crop yields and overall quality of life.

He has managed to improve incomes which he has used to purchase a sheller, motor bike, provide his household with a decent home that’ is well built with modern furniture. He plans to expand and buy a vehicle in future.

Prior to the SIFAZ interventions, Chanda struggled annually with the pain of making small ridges to cultivate his crops.

His yields were also disappointing, primarily because he relied on heavy use of fertilizers and herbicides that were often washed away by the rains.

Now thriving, Chanda strongly encourages others to embrace permanent ridges, showcasing the positive transformations it has brought to his farming and the saving of time and costs he is enjoying.

Pascale Chanda no longer struggles in his agricultural business as his association with the European Union-funded SIFAZ Project, implemented by FAO in close collaboration with CIMMYT and the Ministry of Agriculture, is paying off.-NAIS