MECHANIZATION 360 EXCITES KALABO FARMERS AFTER A TRIPLE YIELD

Nancy MUKELABAI
16 Sep, 2025

MECHANIZATION 360 EXCITES KALABO FARMERS AFTER A TRIPLE YIELD

By NANCY MUKELABAI

SMALLHOLDER farmers always face land preparation challenges which include restricted access to modern equipment, shortage of draught animals and labour. Such factors are normally worsened by lack of financial capacity and support; and the impacts of climate change which make timely and effective land preparation difficult.

This backdrop has enabled government through the Ministry of Agriculture and the private sector to develop the National Agricultural Mechanization Strategy which was launched in Lusaka last year. The main aim of this strategy is to improve efficiency and productivity for smallholder farmers by providing better access to farm equipment and latest technology.

The National Agricultural Mechanization Strategy brought about the Mechanization 360 campaign which aims to mechanize 500,000 hectares of smallholder farm land by 2027 through various initiatives.

The Ministry of Agriculture in Kalabo district in Western province rolled out the Mechanization 360 initiative in September, 2024 at the Farmers Training Centre. This involved showcasing the available machinery ready for hire at an affordable fee. The machinery included a tractor, disk harrow, plough, planter, center pivot irrigation, sprinkler system and a combined harvester.

A small scale farmer, Mukobela Mwiza, aged of Chinjenge village of Yuka agricultural camp which is seven kilometres from the boma.

Mr Mwiza, is an all seasoned farmer who grows a variety of crops which he sells all year round. He is not dependent on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

“I have lived all my life growing crops like maize, cassava, sweet potatoes and vegetables. Farming has made me and my family always have enough food for consumption throughout the year,” Mr Mwiza said.

He explained that he is self-sufficent noting that, he does not remember the last time he bought mealie meal.

“The funds I realise from sales of a variety of crops I grow, I use the funds to meet household needs and also to meet mychildren’s school requirements,” Mr Mwiza said.

Mr Mwiza acknowledged that he has been growing enough maize for both consumption and the market, although still faced challenges in terms of land preparation and planting on time.

Late planting normally leads to reduced yields due to limited exposure to optimal heat units and shortened growing season which results in poor root development and photosynthesis.

Therefore, launching the Mechanization 360 in Kalabo district came as a long needed technological intervention to some farmers such as Mr Mwiza who did not hesitate to hire the equipment.

He planted Zamseed 606 variety with the use of the equipment and results are visible to see.

“I’m impressed with the Mechanization 360 which the government has availed to us. It has reduced both the labour and duration of land preparation and planting. Initially, I would take two weeks of land preparation and a week of planting; and higher labour costs. But the last farming season-2024/2025 only took me a week to prepare and finish planting my field,” Mr Mwiza said.

This has resulted in an increased yield of four hundred and 10bags by 50 kilogrammes of maize in an eight hectare field where he previously used to harvest hundred bags or less only.

And Kalabo District Agricultural Coordinator, Milimo Mudenda, disclosed that government is committed in providing access to farm equipment and technology to small scale farmers, while promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture.

“I’m glad we have at least a farmer in the district who decided to embrace the use of mechanisation. This is enough proof to other farmers, this government intervention supports the development of the food supply chain through improved agricultural practices that increase production and enhance food security,” Mr Mudenda said.

Indeed, farm mechanisation offers benefits to small scale rural farmers such as increased crop production and yields, higher labour productivity and more timely operations like planting which can improve profitability and reduce costs.

Farm mechanisation reduces the physical manual farm work but allows for the cultivation of larger areas of land in a reduced period of time.

The government hopes most rural farmers will come on board and utilise the mechanisation 360 in their respective districts and improve their yields and have enough food at household level.-NAIS

Mr Mwiza, a small-scale farmer in Kalabo district in Western province.